No walk-ins': Gatchalian wants smooth COVID-19 vaccination for minors

As the government eyes to begin the inoculation of minors against COVID-19 on October 15, Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 to avoid a "walk-in" system and prevent crowding in vaccination sites.

Gatchalian made this call in a Senate panel hearing on the pilot testing of limited face-to-face classes. The same hearing discussed the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to minors. Minors aged 12-17 with comorbidities are listed in the Pediatric A3 category and will be the first to receive their COVID-19 vaccines. Children of healthcare workers will also be given priority in pediatric vaccination against COVID-19.

"I would discourage the NTF from doing a first-come, first-served walk-in type of arrangement," Gatchalian said during the hearing.

"We don't allow a walk-in type of arrangement dahil talagang mag-iipon-ipon ang mga tao, especially now that the weather condition is unpredictable at maya't maya ay umuulan. Let's not do a walk-in type of arrangement because that will really spell disaster at the end," the senator said, citing the experience of Valenzuela which strictly imposed vaccination schedules to avoid overcrowding in vaccination sites.

According to the NTF, there are 12.7 million teenagers in the 12-17 age group. The Department of Health (DOH) explained that based on the Global Burden of Disease, 10 percent of those in this age group are estimated to have comorbidities.

Eight hospitals were so far designated for the first phase of pediatric vaccination from October 15-30: National Children's Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Pasig City Children's Hospital, Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Makati Medical Center, St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig, and Philippine Children's Medical Center. The vaccine rollout in hospitals will begin with the 15-17 age group followed by minors aged 12-14.

"It's about time that we vaccinate our teenagers and we support the prioritization of teenagers with comorbidities. What we're driving at is that we don't want a scenario wherein they will be lining up in those eight hospitals. Kawawa naman ang mga batang ito sa ganung sitwasyon," Gatchalian added.

To date, two COVID-19 vaccines have approval from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use on minors. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has FDA approval for use on minors aged 12-15. Moderna's vaccine, on the other hand, is approved for minors aged 12-17.

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Maayos na pagpapabakuna ng mga menor de edad isinusulong ni Gatchalian

Ngayong nakatakda nang simulan ang pagpapabakuna ng mga menor de edad laban sa COVID-19 sa Oktubre 15, hinihimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 na huwag pahintulutan ang "walk-in system" upang maiwasan ang pagkukumpol-kumpol sa mga vaccination sites.

Inihayag ni Gatchalian ang panawagang ito sa isang pagdinig sa pilot testing ng limited face-to-face classes. Tinalakay din sa naturang pagdinig ang pagbabakuna ng mga menor de edad. Unang babakunahan ang mga kabataang may comorbidities at may edad labindalawa (12) hanggang labing-pito (17). Ang mga kabataang ito ay nabibilang sa Pediatric A3 category. Bibigyan din ng prayoridad ang mga anak ng healthcare workers.

"Ang mungkahi ko sa NTF ay huwag payagan ang first-come, first served walk-in na sistema," ani Gatchalian.

"Hindi namin pinahihintulutan ang walk-in na sistema dahil talagang mag-iipon-ipon ang mga tao, lalo na ngayong wala tayong kasiguruhan sa pahanon at maya't maya ay umuulan. Huwag tayong magpatupad ng walk-in na sistema dahil magiging magulo ang pagbabakuna," pahayag ng senador habang ibinabahagi ang halimbawa ng Valenzuela kung saan mahigpit na ipinapatupad ang mga schedule ng pagpapabakuna upang maiwasan ang pagdagsa ng mga tao.

Ayon sa NTF, tinatayang may mahigit labindalawang (12.7) milyong mga kabataan na may edad na labing dalawa (12) hanggang labing-pito (17). Paliwanag naman ng Department of Health (DOH), sampung (10) porsyento ng mga kabataang ito ang may tinatayang may comorbidities batay sa Global Burden of Disease.

Walong ospital ang naitalagang vaccination site para sa unang bahagi ng pediatric vaccination mula Oktubre 15-30. Kabilang sa mga ospital na ito ang: National Children's Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Pasig City Children's Hospital, Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Makati Medical Center, St. Luke's Medical Center sa Taguig, at ang Philippine Children's Medical Center. Ang pagpapabakuna sa mga bata ay magsisimula sa mga may edad labing lima (15) hanggang labing-pito (17), kasunod ang mga batang may edad labindalawa (12) hanggang labing-apat.

"Napapanahon nang bakunahan natin ang ating mga menor de edad. Suportado rin natin ang pagbibigay prayoridad sa mga may comorbidities. Iniiwasan natin ang mga insidente kung saan pipila sila ng matagal sa walong mga ospital na ito. Kawawa naman ang mga bata sa ganung sitwasyon," pahayag ni Gatchalian.

Sa kasalukuyan, may dalawang bakuna kontra COVID-19 ang aprubado ng Philippine Food and Drug Administration. Ang bakuna mula sa Pfizer-BioNTech ay aprubado para sa mga kabataang may edad labing dalawa (12) hanggang labing-lima (15). Samantala, ang Moderna COVID-19 vaccine ay maaaring gamitin sa mga may edad labing dalawa (12) hanggang labing-pito (17).

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