Pasay City mayor backs COVID-19 vaccination of minors

 (AFP)

MANILA, Philippines – Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano on Thursday said that it is time to vaccinate individuals aged 12 to 17 against COVID-19 amid he rising number of infected children.

“Suportado ko po ang planong vaccination para sa mga kabataan lalo pa ngayon na pati sila ay nahahawa na rin ng COVID-19 kaya napapanahon ito para na rin sa kanilang kaligtasan at ng kanilang pamilya,” Calixto – Rubiano said in a statement.

(I support the planned vaccination for children, especially now that they contract COVID-19. It is timely for the safety o the while family.)

“Bilang isang ina nag-aalala po ako sa kaligtasan ng ating mga anak kaya nanawagan ako sa lahat ng mga magulang na doblehin pa nila ang kanilang pag-aalaga sa mga bata,” the mayor added.

(As a mother, I am worried about the safety of our children. That’s why I am appealing to all parents to double their efforts in taking care of them.)

Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano. Photo from her Facebook page

Recently, the Philippine General Hospital and the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines noted the increase in COVID-19 cases among minors.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said that the government is planning to vaccinate children aged 12 to 17  by late September or early October.

Facade of the UP – Philippine General Hospital. Image from the PGH website

Rubiano noted that vaccination for children is timely amid the threat of the more infectious COVID-19 Delta variant.

The city government, she said, will deploy monitoring teams  composed of police and barangay officials, during the enhanced community quarantine to ensure that children stay at home.

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