Some experts have advocated for the vaccination of children ages 5 to 11 to protect them from the long-term effects of COVID-19, an adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19 said Wednesday.
At the Laging Handa briefing, NTF medical adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa said that though some children only had mild symptoms of COVID-19, others had experienced “long COVID.”
“‘Yung long COVID kasi humihina ‘yung puso nila, humihina ‘yung baga nila, at hindi nila nagagawa ‘yung mga normal na activity,” Herbosa said.
(Long COVID causes their hearts and lungs to weaken and prevents them from doing normal activities.)
“Ito ang isang rason bakit ina-advocate ng karamihang expert din ang magbigay ng bakuna sa below 11 kahit ito ay experimental pa lang. Kasi ang benepisyo nito ay parang mas maganda kaysa sa mga long-term side effect,” he added.
(This is one of the reasons why many experts advocate for the vaccination of minors below 11 even though it’s still an experimental vaccine. It’s because the benefits outweigh the long-term side effects.)
Israel on Monday started vaccinating minors under 12 years old with the Pfizer vaccine, a few days after the inoculation of the age group was approved in the United States.
In the Philippines, the Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that the vaccines for the age group may be available by the end of the year.
Restrictions on kids
Meanwhile, Herbosa expressed his support for regulating the mobility of children aged 11 and below, especially when visiting malls for leisure.
“Payag akong i-restrict, i-regulate ang pagpasok ng mga maliliit na bata 11 and below sa ating mga mall for leisure, unless may talagang kailangan at kung gagawin ay dapat siguro kung puwedeng mag-face mask, mag-face mask at kung puwede ay sandali lang doon sa mall at huwag magtagal at maglagi, sapagkat puwede pa rin mahawa iyan,” he said.
(I favor restrictions on kids ages 11 and under in malls for leisure, unless it’s an essential trip. If it’s necessary, maybe they can wear face masks. They shouldn’t stay long either, since they can still be infected.)
Herbosa said the virus may be transmitted among unvaccinated individuals, such as minors.
“[G]aya ng nangyari sa Europa ay sa mga unvaccinated… So syempre yung ating kabataan below 12 dahil hindi pa natin nababakunahan, malamang sa kanila mag lipat lipat yung virus at baka mahawa pati yung ating mga vaccinated at yung mga unvaccinated na mga adults natin,” he said.
(Similar to what’s happening in Europe, where the unvaccinated partly contributed to the surge in new cases, children under 12 who have yet to be vaccinated may end up spreading the virus. Vaccinated and unvaccinated adults may also be infected.)
Last week, Metro Manila mayors agreed to let the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) decide on the mobility restrictions on minors below the age of 12.
“The IATF has the necessary scientific and empirical data as well as the health, epidemiological, and pediatric experts,” the mayors said in a resolution.— VBL, GMA News
NTF adviser Herbosa touts benefits of COVID-19 vaccination for kids ages 5-11
Source: Balita News
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