ILOILO City – Now isn’t the time to vaccinate children aged 12 to 17 years old against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Unvaccinated adults must be prioritized, according to Dr. Joselito Villaruz, a pediatrician and president of West Visayas State University (WVSU), in reaction to the recent pronouncement of National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) chairman and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez that the national government may commence adolescent vaccination by end-September or October depending on supplies and go signal from experts.
Though Villaruz believes there’s a need to immunize everyone as “anybody is vulnerable” of getting infected, he said the adult population must be prioritized over children.
“Right now, I think less than 10 percent sang adult population (is) vaccinated,” Villaruz told Panay News.
Villaruz explained that it could be the adults “who are more likely to transmit the virus to the children”.
He added that the mobility of children is limited anyway because there are no face-to-face classes yet.
“Dapat i-achieve naton (first) ang level of (vaccination) coverage (for adults),” Villaruz said.
“Although there is now an increasing incidence of infection man sa adolescent population – that is young children – I think this comes from their respective households nga naghalin man sa adult population,” he pointed out.
When is the best time to inoculate children?
Villaruz believes vaccination of children can commence once a significant number of the adult population has been inoculated.
“Ang consensus statement of the Philippine Pediatric Society is one, an optimum number of adult population has (to be) vaccinated. Wala man naton gin-specify kon pila ka percent sang population pero siguro significant adult population – more than 50 to 60 percent. Then we can start the vaccination siguro sa aton children,” said Villaruz.
This city is set to start registering its children population for possible inclusion in the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program.
Mayor Jerry Treñas directed the City Population Office to identify these 12 to 17 year olds and secure their parents’ consent.
On the other hand, Villaruz reminded all adults, especially the working ones, to continue following the minimum public health standards.
Villaruz emphasized that everyone has a role to fulfill in the fight against COVID-19.
He also noted that there is no “no vaccine, no work” policy but the government can offer incentives to encourage more people to get inoculated.
As to the part of WVSU, Villaruz said there is no “no vaccine, no enrollment” policy./PN
