A total of 161 deaths among children were recorded in Central Visayas from April 2020 to January 2022, data from the Department of Health in Region 7 (DOH 7) said.
Of the total reported pediatric deaths, 121 are under 12 years of age while 40 fatalities are between 13 to 18 years old.
The number of pediatric COVID-19 patients in Region 7 also reached 735, consisting of 113 below one year of age, 238 one to five years old, 115 between six to 10 years old, 114 for 11 to 15 years old, and 155 between 16 to 18 years old.
Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, chief pathologist of DOH 7, noted that the numbers are high for those below 11 years old as there were still no COVID-19 vaccines for them during the recording period.
“But for the 13 to 18 which is a total of 40 from April 2020 to January 2022, kukunin pa natin ang verified numbers kung ilan talaga ang may bakuna na dito sa age group na ito,” she said.
The figures do not include yet 807 minors infected by the disease but were not admitted to hospitals.
“So you can just imagine, if we can do vaccination then we can do away with this,” she said.
“So kung ‘yan pong mga numero na ‘yan is not enough para maantig ang ating mga damdamin at ating pag-iisip, na puwede naman kasi — preventable naman kasi ito,” she added.
To date, there have been 354,620 vaccinated children aged 12 to 17 years old in Region 7. – Report from John Aroa (PTV Cebu) /AG
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