Department of Health(DOH)

Dear Mr Cuartero, Please be informed that we have endorsed your request to the DOH Public Health Services Team for action. Kindly await for their response, thank you.

January 23, 2023 Dear Ryan Cuartero, I refer to my letter of Nov 14, 2022 06:33:20 AM about your request under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for COVID-19 outbreaks in children if they will not get any COVID vaccination. In order for us to work further on your request, we need more information from you regarding your query. We apologize for the delay of response to this eFOI Request. May we know if you still need the information? Kindly email us at [email protected] You may use the reply function on the eFOI portal at https://www.foi.gov.ph/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERPSC04MDk1ODMyOTYxNzgM, for request with ticket number #DOH-809583296178, to respond. During the period of us awaiting your reply, your request will be put on hold. If we do not receive a reply on or before Apr 17, 2023 06:09:37 AM, your request will be closed. We hope to hear from you at the soonest possible time. Thank you. Respectfully, FOI Decision Maker FOI Officer

February 2, 2023 Dear Ryan Cuartero, Greetings! Thank you for your request dated Nov 14, 2022 06:33:20 AM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch. Your Request You asked for COVID-19 outbreaks in children if they will not get any COVID vaccination. Response to Request Your FOI request is approved. On August 11, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the “Interim statement on COVID-19 vaccination for children” which outlines that the outbreaks of COVID-19 have been identified in secondary schools, summer camps and day care centers, particularly when neither physical distancing nor masks were used to reduce transmission risks. There is some preliminary evidence that younger children may be less infectious, as measured by secondary attack rates, than adolescents and adults. Data on the global incidence of COVID-19 suggest adolescents test positive for SARS-CoV-2 at a higher proportion than younger children, however, zero prevalence surveys are required to provide more conclusive information on infection rates. Further, children who become infected with SARS-CoV-2 shed the virus in their respiratory tract and also in their feces. Amongst individuals positive for SARS-CoV-2 who were tested at the same time point after symptom onset, levels of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA shedding in the respiratory tract appeared similar in children, adolescents, and adults. Please see the link for your reference: https://www.who.int/news/item/11-08-2022-interim-statement-on-covid-19-vaccination-for-children. For further queries and concerns, you may contact us via email at [email protected]. Your right to request a review If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011). Thank you. Respectfully, FOI Decision Maker FOI Receiving Officer