Big turnout for Bacolod’s pediatric vaccination drive

BACOLOD City – The local government here resumed on Nov. 3, 2021 its pediatric vaccination campaign conducted simultaneously in three vaccination centers.

Dr. Chris Sorongon, deputy for medical, data analysis and management of the Emergency Operations Center-Task Force, said that a total of 920 minors, aged 12 to 17, were administered Pfizer jabs at the Riverside Medical Center, SMX Convention Center and Ayala Malls Capitol Central sites.

About 300 teeners with co-morbidities were inoculated at the RMCI on top of 300 more vaccinees at the SMX of SM City Mall and 320 at Ayala Malls from the general pediatric population, Sorongon said.

“It’s a very encouraging turnout. And I cannot overemphasize the fact that this is the result of the hard work of our medical frontliners and volunteers,”  Mayor Evelio Leonardia said.

On Friday, Oct. 29, Bacolod’s EOC-TF and COVID Vaccination Council, both chaired by Leonardia with former City Administrator Em Legaspi-Ang as executive director, vaxxed 266 minors with co-morbidities at the RMCI.

It turned out to be the highest number of vaccinees nationwide in the maiden run of the pediatric A3 vaccination program, the Department of Health said.

FULL SWING

Teeners with co-morbidities can still get their jabs at Riverside tomorrow, Nov. 4. The vaccination runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sorongon said.

The Ayala Malls vaccination starts at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m.,while SMX is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Mondays to Sundays, he added.

Vaccinees from the general pediatric population, Sorongon continued, are required to bring their birth certificates and proof of filiation.

Those with co-morbidities must present their medical certificates, while accompanying patents or guardians must show any government-issued identification cards, he said.

COMMON CO-MORBIDITIES

The more common co-morbidities among Bacolod minors, who received vaccines, include bronchial asthma, seizure disorders, spectrum of autism disorders and ADHD.

Others have cardio-vascular diseases, congenital heart disorders and endocrine disorders, among others, the EOC executive said.

TRAILBLAZING INITIATIVES

Even on a holiday and weekends, EOC-TF and CoVAC medical frontliners and personnel of the Bacolod City Health Office under Dr. Edwin Miraflor, Jr., will continue with the pediatric vaccination drive.

This time, Sorongon said, vaccinators will mount onsite, school-based campaigns.

The campaign kicks off at the St. Scholastica’s Academy, where 300 students are scheduled for inoculation on Nov. 5, Sorongon disclosed.

Colegio San Agustin Bacolod, with 600 vaccinees, Nov. 10; St. John’s Institute, 660, Nov. 12; La Consolacion College Bacolod, 600, Nov. 12, and Trinity Christian School, 460, Nov. 13.

The EOC is awaiting the schedule for Bacolod Tay Tung High School, while the University of St. La Salle-Integrated School and St. Joseph’s La Salle are in the process of masterlisting the roster of their vaccinees.

BARANGAY-BASED CENTERS

Public schools under the Department of Education are master listing as well, he said, adding that jabs for DepEd institutions will be administered in barangay vaccination centers nearest them.

On Saturday, EOC-TF, CHO and CoVAC teams will also hold a meeting with Sangguniang Kabataan leaders to fast-track thevmaster listing of minors at the village level.

 

HAPPY WITH TURNOUT

Sorongon said city frontliners are happy with the turnout of the pediatric vaccination efforts.

It simply shows that Bacolod parents are in full support of the initiatives of the local government under Leonardia to achieve herd immunity, he said.

The big turnout is also indicative of the fact that our students are eager over the prospects of a return to face-to-face classes, he pointed out.

“The kids are now setting the example. We noted that parents, who are unvaccinated, consequently, got jabbed because they are accompanying their minor children to the vaccination sites,” Sorongon shared.

So far, he added, no adverse side effects have been reported among teeners who were inoculated. (PIO)