Only 0.27% of vaccinated minors experienced side effects – data

Only a small percentage of 12-17-year-olds vaccinated against COVID-19 experienced adverse side effects caused by injecting the drug, the Department of Health (DOH) shares today.

Of the 1,509 who received the COVID-19 vaccine in children with comorbidity on Friday, only four were reported to have received adverse events following immunization (AEFI), according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

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“Meron po tayong apat. Isa po ay… nagkaroon ng pagtaas ng presyon. But after two hours, they were able to manage it at naging normal na ‘yung blood pressure noong bata,” said Vegeire.

(We have four. One is … there was an increase in blood pressure. But after two hours, they were able to manage it, and their blood pressure returned to normal as a child.)

“[M]eron ding isa nagkaroon ng allergic reaction but it was managed, at nag-resolve din ‘yung allergies.”

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Despite this, this is only a “brief overview” and still needs to be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration before it becomes official data.

“Ito po ‘yung nakuha natin, but again let me caution all of you, it’s not official yet. So we still need to input that into the Vigiflow of the [FDA].”

“So ito po ay pinag-aaralan pa rin ng ating mga vaccination sites at vaccine cluster, tapos magsusumite sa FDA.”

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Only 0.27% of vaccinated minors experienced side effects – data

DOH describes the current state of pediatric vaccination in the Philippines as “very smooth.”

Only Pfizer and Moderna vaccines can be given to 12-year-olds in the Philippines per the emergency use authorization approved by the FDA.

Vergeire explained that the key to this was to be assessed by their doctors before vaccinations. She also said that the children were immediately given clearance to be given the said drugs.

“As to the guardians and children giving their informed consent and assent, wala rin naman tayong naging problema diyan,” the DOH official said.

“I think ‘yung orientation na ginawa natin, the townhall with the parents and the physicians, plus siguro ‘yung ating mga ospital nakausap din naman po nila ‘yung mga magulang noong kanilang pasyente kaya naging mas madali para sa atin,” she added.

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