The Taguig City government turned some of its coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination hubs into a “superhero carnival” center as it officially rolled out the jabs for children aged 5 to 11 years old on Monday.

Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano said this is part of the efforts to reduce fear or vaccine hesitancy among the age group.

“To complement the pediatric vaccination initiative, the city added new vaccination sites at the SM Aura SMX Convention Center and Lakeshore Vaccination Hub, which specifically turned to a children’s party-like venue. Vaccinees are greeted by cosplayers and delighted with different attractions like a puppet show. As a simple token for their bravery, every minor vaccinee is given a loot bag after inoculation,” Cayetano said.

As of Monday, the number of children belonging to the 5 to 11 age group who were pre-registered for their Covid-19 shots through the “Taguig Registry for Access and Citizen Engagement” (TRACE) reached 22,814.

Cayetano said vaccinating minors is part of the preparation of the City in the opening of the face-to-face classes.

“Here in Taguig, we strongly believe that vaccination is our strongest weapon to fight the virus. It is duly time to start the vaccination of our minors as this is important as we gradually open the schools for the face-to-face classes. We want to give our children the best education and we have to protect them to be able to do this,” he added.

And with Taguig now starting to transition in the “new normal”, the local government is encouraging the guardians of minors residing or studying in Taguig to register to TRACE (trace.taguig.gov.ph) or visit TRACE kiosks in their barangays to get their children protected from Covid-19.

In an interview, Dr. Jennifer Lou de Guzman, head of the city’s immunization program, said the act of using this kind of theme aims to make the vaccine experience more fun for kids.

“Kung makikita po ninyo ginawa naming kaaya-aya ang aming vaccination site kasi po bukod sa mga magulang natin na nang eengganyo simula pa lamang sa kanilang mga tahanan ngayon po ay nagkaroon ng isang makulay na vaccination site para mawaksi ng mga chikiting na ang pagtusok o pagbabakuna ay hindi dapat katakutan bagkus dapat maging excited para maging protektado (If you see what we have done on our vaccination centers, we made it attractive and colorful for the parents and the minors they are accompanying so that the fear and apprehension of these children over vaccination will be allayed and that they will be more than excited to be inoculated),” she added.

De Guzman said this decision seemed to turn out fruitful as around 180 children were vaccinated in their first two hours of operation who all seemed to be happy after getting their jabs at the SM Aura SMX Convention Center.

The SM Aura vaccination site targets to vaccinate around 500 children daily.

De Guzman also stressed that safety protocols were observed during the vaccination process.

Meanwhile, Teresa See, 44, a resident of Barangay Fort Bonifacio, who escorted her seven-year-old son in the SM Aura SMX Convention Center, lauded the local government for coming up with the “superhero carnival theme” as her little boy was able to get his shot without fear.

She also hopes that other parents who have children aged 5 to 11 years old will have them vaccinated soon for them to be protected against Covid-19.

Bernadette Cruz, 31, a resident of Barangay Ususan, who also accompanied her eight-year-old son, said the sight at SM Aura SMX Convention Center was very assuring to her child, who enjoyed the vaccination thanks to balloons and character mascots at the site.

“Sa mga parents na hesitant sa vaccine, i-encourage ko po kayo to revisit yung mga decision when it comes to the decision sa vaccination dahil makakatulong ito sa herd immunity ng bansa natin para makabalik na din ang mga anak natin sa schools (to those parents who are still hesitant about vaccinating their children, I am encouraging you to revisit your decision on vaccination as having your children vaccinated will help the country reach herd immunity and allow our children to return to schools),” she added. (PNA)