BY MAE SINGUAY AND DOMINIQUE GABRIEL BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – This city had the highest number of minors inoculated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine during the Department of Health’s (DOH) nationwide launching on Oct. 29 limited for pediatric A3 group, or children with comorbidities, according to the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force here.
The pilot vaccination was held at the Riverside College. A total of 266 children aged 12 to 17 received free Pfizer shots.
Based on DOH’s record furnished to the EOC, other “top performers” were the Manuel A. Roxas District Hospital (246 kid-vaccinees), the Gov. Faustino N. Dy District Hospital (226) and the City of Ilagan Medical Center (216), all in the province of Isabela (Region 2).
In Western Visayas, the St. Paul’s Hospital Inc. (Iloilo City) and the Teresita Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (Silay City, Negros Occidental) vaccinated 130 and 77 youngsters, respectively.
The national government pilot-tested the Pediatric A3 program in Metro Manila two weeks ago and launched the nationwide drive late last week.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia led the pilot pediatric A3 vaccination together with medical frontliners from EOC and the City Health Office led by officer-in-charge, Dr. Edwin Miraflor Jr.
The inoculation of minors with comorbidity resumes on Nov. 3 at the Riverside College annex, while other minor Bacolodnons without comorbidity can have their vaccination either at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central or the SMX Convention Center of SM City-Bacolod.
The pediatric vaccination is being held in a hospital-based site that has the capacity to manage possible adverse reactions to vaccines, ensure close monitoring and facilitate easy referral of patients, according to EOC.
On the other hand, the provincial government of Negros Occidental initially targeted to vaccinate 300 to 400 minors on Friday, but others failed to proceed because of incomplete documents.
According to TLJPH chief, Dr. Maryann Maestral, several minors failed to present a medical certificate showing their existing comorbidity.
Nevertheless, according to Maestral, kids’ vaccination will resume on Tuesday, not only in TLJPH but also in the Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital (Kabankalan City) and the Cadiz District Hospital./PN
