Iloilo province rolled out its pediatric vaccination for 12 to 17 years old that was officially launched at the Aleosan District Hospital in the municipality of Alimodian on Friday.
Iloilo Provincial Administrator Lawyer Suzette Mamon, in an interview, said while the official launching was held in Alimodian, other local government units (LGUs) in the province have already started their vaccination for minors.
“Other LGUs also have their own schedule. It will be done simultaneously with A1, A2, A3 and A4 if there are those who are not yet vaccinated,” she said.
A1 consists of healthcare worker front-liners, A2 for senior citizens, A3 for adults with comorbidities, and A4 is composed of economic front-liners.
The launch was joined by 60 minors already pre-identified for the event. They were vaccinated using the Pfizer vaccine.
“So far there were no adverse effects. There were five or six with co-morbids but there was no adverse reaction,” she added.
If there are adverse effects, Mamon said there is also a mechanism on how to manage them. Since it is being held in a hospital, then there is no problem with managing the concern.
Meanwhile, parents who accompanied their children to the vaccination site, in their conversation with Iloilo Provincial Health Office chief Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon, said they are willing to have their kids vaccinated for their protection.
The parents said they did not hesitate to submit their 12 to 17 years old children for inoculation as they are already fully vaccinated.
“As a parent, a single mother, I always think of the safety of my child. I never hesitated to have my child vaccinated for protection. I am fully vaccinated and I want my child to be fully vaccinated as well,” one parent said.
Kids who were interviewed by Quiñon said they wanted to get protected and they looked forward to returning to face-to-face classes soon.
The launch was attended by the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD) regional director Adriano Suba-an, Hospital Management Office head Dr. Paz Calopiz, and chiefs of hospitals.
The provincial government is targeting to inoculate 227, 662 children in the 12 to 17 age bracket. (PNA)
