LOCAL government units in the National Capital Region started the second phase of the vaccination of minors aged 12 to 17 with comorbidities on Friday, October 22.

San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, along with Health Undersecretary Dr. Roger Tong-An, National Task Force Against Covid19 medical adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa and Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya, led the inoculation of 140 minors at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

“Sinimulan po ang registration para sa ating mga kabataan mula 12-17 noong nakaraang buwan pa at sa ngayon ay mayroon nang mahigit sa 5,000 registrants,” Zamora said.

“Ito ay isang indikasyon na karamihan po ng ating mamamayan ay tiwala sa vaccination program ng ating lokal na pamahalaan,” he added.

On the other hand, two hospitals in Quezon City will administer the pediatric inoculation.

The vaccination will be administered at the Quezon City General Hospital until October 27 and St. Luke’s Medical Center until October 28.

“We have seen in the past months how the virus has been affecting our kids as well. It’s high time that we expand the vaccination program to them,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

“We, in the local government, would like to assure everyone that the inoculation process for the children will be as smooth, if not better, as the ones we had for the adults,” she added.

In Manila, Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso was joined by Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna, Manila Health Department Director Dr. Arnold Pangan, and Ospital ng Maynila Director Dr. Karl Laqui during the ceremonial vaccination.

Domagoso said the city government prepared for the deployment of Covid19 vaccine jabs as early as September.

He said 23,354 doses were reserved for the inoculation of minors.

“Maaaring nabakunahan na natin ang mga may edad, pero paano ‘yung mga bata? Wala namang science na nagpapatunay na hindi sila maiimpeksyon,” Domagoso said.

“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,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Navotas city government aims to vaccinate at least 150 minors at the Navotas City Hospital.

Mayor Toby Tiangco said vaccine recipients will receive a text message confirming their vaccination schedule.

In Marikina City, 326 children received Covid19 jabs.

Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said that the Marikina Sports Complex was converted into a pediatric vaccination facility.