EIGHT hospitals in the National Capital Region kicked off the vaccination of minors aged 15 to 17 with comorbidities on Friday, October 15.

“We are ready. We’ve given 1,700 Pfizer to each vaccination site and in fact, there are many hospitals and local government units who are asking also for the pilot,” Vaccine czar Secretary Galvez Jr. said.

The hospitals selected to lead the pilot rollout are the National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Pasig City Children’s Hospital, Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Makati Medical Center, St. Luke’s Medical Center, and Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

Some 50 patients received jabs at the National Children’s Hospital, while at least 12 minors were inoculated during the ceremonial vaccination in PGH.

“Ngayong araw po na ito, to be exact, 12 patients po ang ceremonial vaccinees today,”.

“Next week po, 60 patients muna po per day. Kaya meron kaming 300 pre-registered vaccinees, then after that depende na po kung ano ‘yung magiging assessment and evaluation, palalawigin natin ‘yung vaccination,” PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said.

Galvez said that the government will first complete and assess the vaccination in the eight hospitals before expanding the initiative.

Pediatric vaccination will be expanded to other local government units in Metro Manila on October 22.

Galvez said the inoculation of children will be rolled out in areas outside Metro Manila that have vaccinated at least 50 percent of their elderly population on November 15.

“Iloilo, Cebu and some areas in Calabarzon and Central Luzon have asked the task force to be included in the program,” he said.