COVID-19: Vaccination and Children

While the world continues to contain the virus, COVID-19 continues as well to affect individuals, families, communities, regions, countries, the whole world.

Data about COVID vaccination shows that herd immunity can benefit people and places.

The United States of America, as a case in point, used to have very high COVID-19 cases and deaths. President Biden aggressively called on Americans to strictly follow health protocols. Vaccinations have also been widespread. As a result, there are a number of areas now in the US where people who have been completely vaccinated are allowed not to wear masks in public.

Of course, it will still be wiser to stay on the safe side and strictly follow the health protocols as even if already vaccinated, one may still be infected.

The plus side is vaccination can spare one from serious illness, hospitalization, and death.

Certain cities of Cebu and other areas of NCR and Luzon have received vaccines to be administered to target groups. Frontliners, seniors, and other groups have been scheduled ahead of others as these are the groups shown by data to be most vulnerable if exposed to the virus.

News reports have been confirming that there is a low turnout --with Filipinos either hesitant to be vaccinated or selective of vaccines. Pzifer is the preferred vaccine. Many interviewed by media expressed their fear of adverse effects of all COVID vaccines or of certain vaccines.

National/local governments need to have a better/credible public education campaign to convince Filipinos that all approved vaccines are safe and that no one is completely safe from COVID unless all are safe and protected.

We hope intensified public campaign sees more Filipinos deciding to be vaccinated as soon as the vaccines are available in their areas.

Not all LGUS, however, have received vaccines or have clear vaccination schedules yet. This is one important factor affecting wider vaccination needed for the whole country.

Another important issue related to COVID involves children who may be or are already affected by the changes brought about by COVID. We are reminded to be mindful about children also and monitor them during this pandemic.

Dr. Judith Borja of the USC-Office of Population Studies requested for help in disseminating the following important information to protect children during COVID:

“For the past years the USC-Office of Population Studies Foundation, Inc. (OPS) has worked with Dr. Chandra Ghosh Ippen of the University of California, San Francisco, Child Trauma Research Program in translating her Trinka and Sam stories (https://piploproductions.com) into Philippine dialects. These stories help children deal with various traumatic events.

OPS translated the hurricane story into Cebuano and Waray (after Haiyan) and the earthquake story in Cebuano (after the 2013 massive earthquake that hit Cebu and Bohol).

The latest Trinka and Sam story is on "Fighting the Big Virus" and helps children understand their feelings about events related to COVID-19 (https://www.nctsn.org/resources/trinka-and-sam-fighting-the-big-virus).

The story features a "feelings" board to help children identify and talk about their feelings. OPS did not have the time and resources to translate this story but we did translate the feelings board into Cebuano, Tagalog, Waray, Hiligaynon, Ilocano, and Bikol. We hope that when Filipino parents and teachers read the story to the children, they can use the translated feelings board as a communications tool.

Please help us share the "Fighting the Big Virus" story and the corresponding translated feelings board to parents and teachers along with this brief description of the board: This picture shows the local terms commonly used to describe basic feelings. It can help children identify what they may be feeling at the moment and possibly open the lines for talking about their feelings.”

Again, please always find time for children and monitor their feelings about COVID.