DAVAO CITY, Feb 8 (PIA) – Pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Ma. Delta Aguilar bared in a town hall meeting in Davao Region that the COVID19 virus has not spared the pediatric population.
Dr. Aguilar presented that there are 1,380 total cases of confirmed COVID19 amongst children as recorded in the Southern Philippines Medical Center Department of Pediatrics. Of that number, 573 were recorded in 2020; 669 in 2021; and 138 in 2022.
There was also a recorded 50 number of deaths amongst children due to COVID in the said facility.
“Studies showed that COVID19 is really impacting children. Children who have been infected with COVID19 found to have respiratory, cardiac, and neurodevelopmental issues along with cognitive and physical fatigue,” said Dr. Aguilar.
The same specialist also noted that COVID19 also affects the child’s mental health and adds stress and adjustment difficulties to their lives.
Other studies, she presented, is how children who get infected with COVID19 can also develop serious complications like multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). It is a condition where different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.
The vaccination for 5 to 11 year old roll-out in Davao Region will kick off on February 14, 2022. Department of Health XI Focal for the Vaccination Program Dr. Janis Olavides announced in the One Davao Virtual Presser yesterday that all provinces, cities, and municipalities in the region will simultaneously start on Monday (Feb 14).
Dr. Aguilar highlighted that COVID vaccination in kids is actually a cocoon protection to those who cannot be vaccinated yet.
"Aside from protecting the child from getting a severe disease or death, vaccination also protects family members, including siblings who are not eligible for vaccination and family members who may be at increased risk of getting very sick if they are infected.” (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)
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