Duterte to PAO chief: Let the kids get vaccinated

REITERATING his call for the need to have the younger population protected against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), President Rodrigo Duterte urged Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief, lawyer Persida Acosta to let the children get vaccinated against the dreaded illness.

"Suggestion is for those who are against the vaccination of our children, including PAO Chief Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta, kung ayaw mong magpabakuna, ikaw na lang. Huwag mo nang idamay ang mga bata (if you don't want to get vaccinated, that's on you. Don't involve the children)," the Chief Executive said during his "Talk to the People" public briefing on Monday night.

Duterte was reacting to the petition filed by Acosta for some parents at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) against the Department of Health (DOH) to halt the inoculation of minors from five to 11 against Covid-19.

The DoH, on the other hand, reiterated that administering the jabs to minors is not mandatory and that no vaccination will be done unless consent is given by the parent or legal guardian of the children.

The rollout of the "Resbakuna Kids" started last Monday using the reformulated Pfizer brand at six key sites in Metro Manila -- the Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children's Medical Center, National Children's Hospital, Manila Zoo, SM North Edsa (Skydome), and the FilOil Gym in San Juan City.

The government is aiming to have around 15 million from the age group fully vaccinated nationwide.

"If you really love your country, kung mahal mo ang bayan mo, mahal mo 'yung anak mo, pagsabayan mo 'yung dalawang rason na 'yan (if you love your country, love your child, put those two reasons together), have them vaccinated," concluded Duterte.

Source: TheManila Times