- MITCH M. LIPA
About 300 children 12 to 17 years old with comorbidities in Negros Occidental, and 100 in Bacolod City, will receive the Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 on Friday, Oct. 29, at the launching of the vaccination rollout for those in the Pediatric A3 category.
Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, said the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City will be the vaccination venue for Negros.
The Riverside College School of Nursing will be the venue for Bacolod.
Diaz said that under the guidelines of the Department of Health, the Pediatric A3 vaccination should be hospital-based.
He added that all local government units, through their city or municipal health office, were already informed of the master listing of the vaccine beneficiaries since they will have to travel from north and south of Negros Occidental going to the TLJPH.
The screening will start at 8 a.m., to be followed by the vaccination. There will be an observation area to monitor any adverse events following immunization (AEFI) of children with comorbidities, like cancer, chronic kidney disease, Down syndrome, chronic respiratory problem, and other ailments.
Diaz said they have a target of 300, but if more will come to the venue, they will extend the vaccination up to 500 within the day.
As per the DOH guidelines, the children should be accompanied by their guardians or parents. The medical certificate from their pediatrician should have been submitted before the master listing of qualified vaccine beneficiaries.
The provincial vaccination team is also considering Pediatric A3 vaccination in the hospitals in Kabankalan and Cadiz in the coming days.
Bacolod Emergency Operations Center executive director Em Ang, meanwhile, said they have listed an initial 100 Pediatric A3.
The number may increase if more will come during the launching, she added.
The EOC has pre-registered 763 children under the Pediatric A3, and they will all be scheduled for vaccination.
Ang said the Pediatric A3 vaccination in Bacolod will continue on Nov. 3 and 4, and onwards, also at the same venue.
The inoculation of minors without comorbidities will start Nov. 3 as set by the DOH, and will be held at SM and Ayala malls. Each barangay has a listing of vaccine seekers, who pre-registered, she added. — MML
