Isko Mayor Isko Moreno made the rounds for the vaccination of minors aged 12 to 17 where Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna administered the first shots. Also with them were Manila Health Department chief Dr. Poks Pangan, Sta. Ana Director Dr. Grace Padilla and Congressman Yul Servo. Photo by JERRY S. TAN

Isko, Honey bare plans for kiddie COVID jabs in malls

November 3, 2021 Itchie G. Cabayan 236 views

WITH the encouraging turnout of minors aged 12 to 17 who availed of the free mass vaccination in Manila on Tuesday, Mayor Isko Moreno immediately met with Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna to lay out plans to bring the inoculation to the shopping malls so as to accomodate more vaccines.

Moreno, along with Congressman Yul Servo, Manila Health Department chief Dr. Poks Pangan and Sta. Ana Hospital Director Dr. Grace Padilla, personally assisted in the vaccination of the minors.

Moreno and Lacuna went around the hospital queues to thank the parents who brought their children to avail of the mass vaccination.

Moreno, who is running for President under the Aksyon Demokratiko party, said the mass inoculation will be done in the six city-owned hospitals until Thursday and that by weekend, it may already be held in the four shopping malls which were also utilized for the vaccination of adults.

“Mas maluwag mas makakarami at makakapamasyal na din ang mga bata. Excited kami ni Honey para sa mga bata,” the mayor said.

Lacuna said last week’s inoculation of minors aged 12 to 17 with comorbidities yielded a low turnout which is why yesterday’s mass vaccination of the general population of minors was held only in the hospitals.

Moreno said over 51,000 minors from the general population of 12 to 17 years old registered for the vaccination. The city has 120,000 doses of Pfizer for them.

The mayor also said that just like in the case of the adult population, bedridden minors will also be vaccinated at home, also with Lacuna, a doctor, administering them.

“Mas doble excitement ko pag sa mall kasi magkakaroon ng negosyo. Bakunado na mga bata, me hanapbuhay mga negosyante me trabaho pa mga tao. Iikot pa rin ang pera,” he said.

The six city-run hospitals served 500 qualified minors each yesterday and Moreno said the city wishes to vaccinate all of the more than 51,000 registered minors at the quickest possible time.

The reserved slots, Moreno said, are being adjusted depending on the number of minors queueing up, as the city continues to implement an ‘open policy’ wherein even those who are not residents are being jabbed in the city of Manila.

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