Around 500 children 12 to 17 years old without comorbidities in Bacolod City received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine against the coronavirus disease at the start of the general pediatric vaccination in two malls in the city on Nov. 3.
The children flocked to the SMX Convention Center and Ayala Malls Capitol Central accompanied by their parents, while others came in groups carrying parental consent and documents.
Emergency Operations Center deputy director for data analysis, Dr. Chris Sorongon, said they require a copy of the birth certificate and proof of affiliation or relationship, as well as any government-issued IDs of the parent/s.
If the child only has the consent of a guardian, the EOC requires a written authorization from the parent/s. A minor should also be accompanied by a guardian in asking for a certification from the barangay concerned that the kid is under his or her care and is a bonafide resident of the barangay. Sorongon said these documents are being required by the Department of Health.
He said more than 5,000 have registered online for the pediatric vaccination, but the EOC also accepts walk-in vaccine seekers. The purpose of the pre-registration is to determine how many are interested to get vaccinated as per requirement of the DOH before a vaccination schedule is set, Sorongon added.
Meanwhile, the vaccination for the Pediatric A3, or children with comorbidities, is on its second day at the School of Nursing of Riverside College in Bacolod.
Sorongon said they expect to inoculate more than 200 Pediatric A3, to add to the initial 266 vaccinees when the rollout was launched Oct. 29.
He added that the EOC will vaccinate students of St. Scholastica’s Academy at Robinsons Place Bacolod on Nov. 5, Colegio San Agustin Bacolod on Nov. 10, St. John’s Institute Nov. 12, and Trinity Christian School on Nov. 13.
Sorongon said they are also coordinating with the Department of Education for the vaccine rollout in public high schools.
For colleges and universities offering Health Sciences courses, the EOC is asking them to prepare the master-list of students already fully vaccinated, as well as their immediate family members, Sorongon said.
This is one way to give protection to the immediate members of family of the medical students since they are rendering duty in hospitals or having outside assignments.
The EOC said 60 percent of the target population already received the first dose against COVID, while 54 to 55 percent had been fully vaccinated.
Sorongon also said 1,500 to 2,500 residents are getting COVID shots per day.
He added that with the full-scale vaccination activities in malls, barangay centers, vaccination buses, and designated drive-through areas, the city government is optimistic to inoculate 75 to 80 percent of the Bacolod population before the end of 2021. — MML
