MANILA - The Department of Health received four reports of adverse reactions of children with comorbidities following their COVID-19 vaccinations and these were all managed, its spokesperson said Monday.

The Philippines on Friday began the inoculation of children aged 12 to 17 with health risks and has administered the jab to 1,509 as of 8 p.m. Saturday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

“We have a total of 1,509 children that were already vaccinated,” Vergeire said in an interview on TeleRadyo.

“So ito naman po’y isang magandang pakita na ang talagang ating mga magulang tsaka yung ating mga kabataan ay talagang may kumpiyansa dito sa ating bakuna,” she added.

(This is a good sign that parents and children alike have faith in our vaccines.)

• Philippines begins COVID-19 vaccination of children with health risks

The adverse reactions have yet to be officially reported to the Food and Drug Administration, Vergeire added.

"Meron po tayong apat. Isa po nangyari isang bata nagkaroon ng pagtaaas ng presyon, but after 2 hours they were able to manage it. Naging normal na ang blood pressure ng bata. Pangalawa, meron ding isa nagkaroon ng allergic reaction but it was managed," she said.

(We received four reports. One child's blood pressure rose, but after 2 hours they were able to manage it, it returned to normal. Another one had an allergic reaction but it was managed.)

"May 2 stress-related dun sa immunization. May mga anxiety tayo sa pagbabakuna, yung 2 reaction was determined to be stress-related because of the vaccination."

(Two were related to stress about the immunization. We feel anxious getting vaccinated, the 2 reactions were determined to be stress-related because of the vaccination.)

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The process of the children's vaccination was "very smooth," Vergeire said as she attributed this to the orientation and town hall the DOH conducted with the parents, children and their doctors.

The agency can improve on the phasing of the vaccination program and encouraging more children with health risks to get inoculated, she added.

Children with any of 11 comorbidities that the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines cited, are eligible for vaccination, the Department of Health earlier said.

The list of conditions include autoimmune disorders, neurologic conditions, metabolic and endocrine conditions, cardiovascular disease, obesity, HIV infection, tuberculosis, chronic respiratory disease, renal disorders, and hepatobiliary.

The inoculation program will expand to 17 hospitals in Metro Manila beginning Oct. 22, according to the DOH.

• Philippines begins COVID-19 vaccination of children with health risks

The Philippines has so far fully vaccinated 24.3 million, while 27.8 million have received their first dose as of Sunday, according to government data.