The administration of the COVID vaccine for kids aged 5 to 11 in the Philippines began last week, February 7. DOH expects around 15.56 million children to receive two doses of Pfizer vaccine formulated especially for young kids. However, the health agency reports that only 52,000 kids have been vaccinated in the first days of the vaccination roll out. This is because parents are still hesitating whether to get their kids vaccinated in case of any adverse effects.

In this blog, we will answer various concerns of parents all over the country to help you decide whether you can proceed with registering your child for vaccination.

Is it safe?

Yes, the vaccine is safe. COVID vaccines for kids are specially formulated Pfizer vaccines for children ages 5 to 11. These vaccines contain lower doses (10 micrograms) than the higher doses used for older children and adults (30 micrograms). Moreover, health professionals only use smaller needles during administration for the younger kids.

Is it effective?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States of America confirmed 90% effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11. The vaccine passed through various clinical trials and safety and efficacy standards for emergency authorization.

Are there any side effects?

Similar to adults, there are common side effects after vaccination that typically last 1 to 3 days. However, please note that as of writing, DOH reported only 4 experienced side effects out of the 52,262 vaccinated kids.

The reported side effects include:

• Pain on vaccine shot area
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Decreased appetite
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nausea
• Chills
• Fever
• Muscle pain
• Joint pain

To avoid any side effects, avoid giving kids over-the-counter pain reliever medicine before vaccination. Health professionals only recommend medication after vaccination.

What vaccine is safe for your kids?

Currently, the only vaccine approved for kids in the age group 5 to 11 is the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. As mentioned previously, it contains a lower dose than the vaccine for adults and kids ages 11 and up.

In the Philippines, Pfizer is the only vaccine on rollout.

What to expect when kids get vaccinated?

After vaccination, health professionals monitor kids for 15 to 30 minutes. This is to see whether they are experiencing any allergic reactions that require immediate treatment.

Meanwhile, many vaccination sites also offer fun activities for kids during and after vaccination. For instance, superhero characters may come and reassure your child, helping them gain courage for the shot. Others also offer treats such as ice cream and cotton candy after vaccination.

Is there a second dose for kids vaccination?

Yes. Like with Pfizer shots with adults, kids will get their second dose of vaccination three (3) weeks after their first shot.

So, please wait for a confirmation message from your designated LGUs.

What is Resbakuna Kids?

DOH heads the Resbakuna Kids for the COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 5 to 11. The campaign follows a phased approach to maximize vaccination to the general public.

Is COVID vaccine for kids available in my area?

The vaccination rollout for kids in the country kickstarted on February 7. However, not all areas have begun administering kids vaccination. Please check with your Local Government Units (LGUs) whether they have started to begin pediatric vaccination rollout.

In a Press Release by the Department of Health on February 7, 2022, the Resbakuna Kids vaccination sites are as follows:

• 38 sites around the National Capital Region (NCR)
• 5 in Region III
• 3 in Region IV-A
• 1 in BARMM and Region XII

Where to get your kids vaccinated in Cagayan de Oro?

Cagayan de Oro City began Resbakuna Kids on February 14, 2022. There are many vaccination sites available in the city, either LGU-based or DOH-managed.

Note that vaccination sites require scheduled visits and they do not allow walk-ins.

Parents must register their children at the official COVID-19 Vaccination Pre-Registration website (https://services.cagayandeoro.gov.ph:8087/vaccprereg/). Afterwards, they need to wait for the text of their schedule before proceeding to the vaccination site. – WhatALife!

Source: (doh.gov.ph), (www.cdc.gov), (www.mayoclinic.org)

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You may also want to read: CDOVaxxUpdate: 790 kids under 5 to 11 age group gets vaccinated on February 14