ONLY eight out of 329,285 children aged 5 to 11 who were vaccinated against Covid19 had minor adverse effects, the Department of Health said on Friday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Vergerie Rosario said the common complaints were rashes, pain in the injection site, fever, vomiting and itchy throat.

“Ang bawat bakunang ituturok ay garantisadong ligtas at epektibo,” Vergerie said during the Laging Handa news briefing.

“Ngunit sinisiguro po ng kagawaran na ang ating health care workers na nasa vaccination sites ay handa para sa ano mang adverse event na maaring maramdaman ng inyong anak,” she added.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said that almost every province has started giving jabs to kids.

“Ang kailangan nating isaalang-alang, lalo na sa mga LGUs pinapapaalalahanan natin iyong pagplano nila na sa pagbabakuna ng 5 to 11 years old ay limitado pa ang supplies ng ating bakuna,” Cabotaje said.

She gave assurances that more doses will arrive in the following weeks. The country expects to receive 5 million doses this month and another five million by next month.

Cabotaje bared that health experts are studying the possible vaccination of children aged 4 and below.

“Hintayin natin ang final recommendation ng experts at tapos kung may mag-file na po ng pagpapa-approve ng zero to five na manufacturer o taga-gawa ng ating bakuna,” she said.