Children in Zambales province are greeted by images of comic book characters and colorful balloons at a vaccination site in Botolan on Tuesday (Feb. 15). PHOTO FROM SULONG BOTOLAN
SAN ANTONIO, Zambales—At least 100 children aged 5 to 11 were welcomed by a children’s party-themed vaccination site in the capital town of Iba on Tuesday (Feb. 15).
Images of comic book characters and balloons in different colors greeted children at the vaccination site.
Party clowns gave entertainment while children were treated to free face paints and party giveaways as they waited for their turn to get injected.
Dr. Maria Francial Laxamana, assistant health secretary, urged parents to have their children vaccinated as she facilitated the event.
She said it was important to have children vaccinated against SARS-Cov2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and its variants as it would be crucial to the resumption of all in-person classes nationwide.
Laxamana said attaining herd immunity would also help speed up economic recovery.
Dr. Noel Bueno, the provincial health director, said the mass vaccination of children was also held simultaneously in remote communities in Botolan town.
Earlier, Bueno said pediatric vaccination in the province would allow “walk-ins” to encourage more parents to bring their children to the vaccination sites.
The province targets to vaccinate 68,000 children within the 5-11 age group.