Iloilo City targets to pilot the vaccination of minors against coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19, next week.
Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has requested the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to allow the pilot vaccination of minors in the city starting Tuesday, October 19.
However, the city government is still waiting for the approval as the request is still pending.
Meanwhile, there are already around 5,000 minors aged 12 to 17 years old from the city who have pre-registered for the COVID-19 vaccination using their school ID or parent’s or guardian’s consent.
Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) said that the pediatric vaccination among the said age group will start with those with comorbidities.
Children with co-morbidities will belong to Priority Group A3.
Expansion beyond this group will follow once adequate coverage of the A2 priority group or senior citizens has been achieved nationwide and vaccine supply becomes sufficient to include children.
According to Treñas, school heads in the city have positive feedbacks about vaccination of students.
The city mayor added that vaccination of students under the said age group is also in preparation for the possible or eyed gradual resumption of face-to-face classes once already allowed.
He further noted that almost all of the teachers were already vaccinated.
“Our vax teams will be preparing the process for vaccination of minors to start once Pfizer and Moderna supplies from the national government arrive, which have so far been approved for use to teens by the Food and Drug Administration,” said Treñas.
He noted that the city will accommodate the registration of everyone including those residing in other provinces who are also studying in the metro.
“Parents can come to our registration sites to have their children pre-registered,” he added.
“We are hoping by the end of the year that we can make another milestone through achieving our aim towards herd immunity,” he further said.
DOH-6 spokesperson Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray earlier said that while there is no exact date yet when the vaccination will be allowed, the regional office encourages local government units to start masterlisting 12 to 17 children in their areas for the vaccination. (Glenda Tayona)/WDJ