ILOILO City – Between Aug. 1 and Aug. 18 this year, 154 children contracted coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
This magnifies the importance of vaccination against COVID-19, especially on parents, said Mayor Jerry Treñas.
“As parents we have the power to protect our children by taking part in the global vaccination program,” he stressed.
Since January this year, the city logged a total of 995 COVID-hit children, 111 of which remained active cases as of Aug. 18.
Two weeks ago, Treñas directed the City Population Office to identify children aged 12 to 17 years old and secure their parents’ consent for possible inclusion in the government’s COVID-19 vaccination program.
National Inter-Agency Task Force chairman and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said they may commence adolescent vaccination by end-September or October depending on supplies and go signal from experts.
On the other hand, as of Aug. 16, Treñas said 280 COVID-19-positive patients were in the city’s various quarantine facilities. A total of 526, meanwhile, were isolating at home.
In terms of vaccination, the city has so far inoculated a little less than 75 percent of the city’s target population which is 525,000.
Treñas said most may still be hesitant. He assured them that the vaccines were vigorously studied and approved by authorities.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of. I received the Sinovac vaccine and was fully vaccinated on May 21,” Treñas said.
The mayor said Iloilo City can inoculate a total of 13,000 individuals a day.
The city has also opened its vaccination program to everyone – including those outside this city – every Thursday.
So far, the city has successfully inoculated 9,740 people from different provinces in Western Visayas. The “vaccination for all” commenced on Aug. 19.
“Getting vaccinated is a simple way yet profound way to care for one another especially the most vulnerable,” said Treñas, quoting Pope Francis./PN
