Minors can now avail of COVID-19 jabs

By Dolly Yasa

Bacolod City – Provincial Inter Agency Task Force Action Officer Rayfrando Diaz said minors 12 to 17 years old, even without comorbidities, may now avail of pediatric vaccination in all the 31 local government units of Negros Occidental, aside from three designated hospital venues and Negros Residences in Bacolod City

Diaz said Moderna and Pfizer vaccines will be administered to minors.

He advised minors with comorbidities to be vaccinated either at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City, Cadiz District Hospital and Lorenzo Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City.

The opening of this age group to vaccination will increase the number of vaccinated persons in Negros Occidental

“This is a big help in achieving herd immunity. The provincial government has enough vaccines on its storage facilities, as of this time,” Diaz said.

The vaccination of minors may pave the way for the return of face-to-face classes soon, noting also the difficulty students encounter in attending online classes where parents are answering examinations.

Diaz said that the provincial government is targeting to vaccinate 1.8 million Negrenses to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19.

As of last week, more than 400,000 Negrenses have been vaccinated.

Diaz advised parents and guardians of minors to register with their respective City or Municipal Health Offices, or Provincial Health Office, stressing that they will not accept walk-in applicants to ensure orderly vaccination and to avoid overcrowding and overwhelming the vaccinators.

A medical certificate is no longer required for pediatric vaccination, except for the parent’s consent and accompaniment of minors by their guardians during their inoculation, which is a must.

As of Nov 2, 2021 Negros Occidental has 72 new COVID-19 active cases.