17 kids in city hospitals for COVID-19

A total of 17 children who were infected with COVID-19 remain admitted in city hospitals, Mayor Jerry Treñas reported on Wednesday, August 18.

According to Treñas, the 17 pediatric patients were admitted in various hospitals in the city, with the youngest being a one-year-old patient.

“Initial reports showed that 17 pediatric patients were admitted to various hospitals in Iloilo City. One hospital alone recorded 11 patients aged 17 and below. The youngest patient reported is a one-year-old. We are still waiting for the additional report from other hospitals,” he said.

The mayor sounded alarm over the recent mortality recorded in the metro involving a one-year-old child.

Recently, the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) raised concerns over the increasing number of children being infected with COVID-19 and admitted in the hospital.

To be properly briefed on the COVID-19 situation in the metro, the mayor together with the hospital directors in the city met with Health Usec. Leopoldo Vega through online platform Wednesday.

Currently, the city government is gathering all the data of eligible children who are set to receive COVID-19 vaccines.

Treñas has initially planned to start the vaccination of minors in the city by end of October or November 2021 following the proposal of Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. to include children in the vaccination.

However, the mayor said the city cannot start the roll-out due to the inadequacy of the supply of vaccines.

Currently, only the Pfizer vaccine has secured an approval of Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the minors.

“Pfizer was given permission to be inoculated to those aged 12-17, but due to the inadequacy of the supply, we cannot start the rollout. Once vaccines are available, we can start this initiative,” he said.

Amid the lack of vaccines for minors, the mayor appealed to the public especially the adults to practice minimum health standards not only to protect themselves but also the children from Covid-19.

“We are reminding the public, bisan bakunado, we can still be carriers. Panumdumon man naton indi lng ang katigulangan, pati man ang aton mga kabataan, proteksyunan man naton. Magsunod kita sa mga pahanumdom para sa kaayuhan sang mga tawo nga aton pulian adlaw-adlaw. Self-isolate kag magpaswab kung may ginabatyag nga sintomas,” he said. (ERS)