For children

This week will be very interesting for children as the rollout for the inoculation will be starting. Those aged 5-11 will be asked to submit themselves to have the vaccines administered. It will be a challenging time for parents as they will have to decide whether or not they will have their children protected from the virus. But the experts say that they already sure that it will work for this age group.

The Omicron variant has been waning in some parts of the country. While it was very rampant during its surge, the effects aren’t as much compared to when Delta was around. The hospital situation isn’t that bad. Yes, expansion had to be done in some major health centers to accommodate COVID-19 patients but then it was worse. There are no videos or pictures of patients waiting outside the emergency rooms with oxygen tanks attached to the vehicles. Today, the problem now is just with the medicines and isolation centers to accommodate those who have contracted the virus.

The children are badly hit. There are photos of them admitted and in pain as they are experiencing the effects. Now that the vaccines are available for them, not everyone is convinced that this is the answer to end this pandemic. There is the issue of what happened during the Dengvaxia scare. Although it was not really proven that the dengue vaccine caused the deaths, there are those still hesitant about it. What happens when we do not adhere to this call? We might be in for a long ride.

Even the World Health Organization said that we are not anywhere near the end as the virus would keep on mutating. Any time soon we should get used to nursing the symptoms that this virus has. That is why I think the children should submit themselves for the inoculation. We also have to make sure that they are safe at this time.

You know, two years is quite a time to live with a pandemic plus with the amount of uncertainty that we are in. There is no use to doubt science at this time but we only have to trust that they are giving us the best. We are living testimonies that the vaccines work. What else do they need?

My only concern is the logistics that it should be all in order. Children should be taken care of when they queue even as they experience side effects. I extend my wishes to the local government units and the vaccinators as they start this new journey. It will be a great challenge and birthing pains will be real. It only takes a small amount of courage and a little push. Soon enough, we can see the end. Not now, of course but we are all looking forward to it.