Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Manila city government has begun vaccinating minors with comorbidities at the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center.
Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said on Friday, October 22, that the vaccination of minors is part of the city government’s aim in getting back to normalcy.
“Maaring nabakunahan na natin ang mga may edad, pero paano ‘yung mga bata? Wala namang science na nagpapatunay na hindi sila maiimpeksyon,” Domagoso said.
(We have vaccinated our elderlies, but how about our children? There is no science that can prove they are immune from the infection.)
“Kaya kailangan na talaga natin silang bakunahan. More than the protection that they’re going to get, ito ay para makabalik na sila sa eskwelahan,” the Mayor added.
(That is why we really need to vaccinate them [children]. More than the protection that they’re going to get, this is for them to get back to school.)
Domagoso was joined by Manila City Vice Mayor Doktora Honey Lacuna, Manila Health Department Director Dr. Arnold Pangan, and Ospital ng Maynila hospital Director Dr. Karl Laqui during the pilot launch.
Lacuna, who is a doctor, personally administered the first vaccine jabs for minors ages 12-17 years old.
According to Domagoso, the city government has prepared for the deployment of COVID-19 vaccine jabs as early as September.
To note, about 23,354 vaccines have been reserved for the inoculation of minors. About 22,854 of those are Pfizer vaccine, while the remaining 500 are Moderna vaccine.
For her part, Lacuna said that vaccination of minors has an equal importance with how adults are getting their protection against COVID-19.
“Talagang dapat simulan na natin yung 12-17 yrs old kasi karamihan sa bahay nabakunahan na except sila,” Lacuna said.
(It is really important to start vaccinating 12 to 17 years old because almost all of the people in the house were already vaccinated except for them.)
“Kung gaano po kaimportante ang bakuna sa inyong mga adults, ganun rin sa mga bata,” she added.
(If vaccine is so important for adults, the same is for our children.)
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