COVID-19 vaccines

Ilocos Region hospitals start vaccinating minors vs COVID-19

John Michael Mugas

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Ilocos Region hospitals start vaccinating minors vs COVID-19

A MINOR in Ilocos Sur receives her COVID-19 jab during the simultaneous rollout of pediatric vaccination in the Ilocos Region on October 29, 2021.

Photo courtesy of Vigan city government

Children with comorbidities are given priority as they are more likely to experience severe or critical COVID-19 symptoms, says John Paul Aquino, immunization program manager of the regional Department of Health

At least seven hospitals across the Ilocos Region started vaccinating children ages 12 to 17 with comorbidities on Friday, October 29, aiming to give the vulnerable population an added layer of protection against COVID-19.

According to John Paul Aquino, immunization program manager of the regional Department of Health (DOH), children with comorbidities are given priority in the government’s vaccination drive as they are more likely to experience severe or critical COVID-19 symptoms.

The seven hospitals are the following:

  • Ilocos Norte
    • Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center
  • Ilocos Sur
    • Vigan City Health Office-Gabriela Silang Provincial Hospital
  • La Union
    • Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center
  • Pangasinan
    • Region 1 Medical Center
    • Conrado F. Estrella Regional Medical and Trauma Center
    • San Nicolas Rural Health Unit Eastern Pangasinan District Hospital
    • Western Pangasinan District Hospital

Dr. Rheuel Bobis, COVID-19 focal person of the regional DOH, said that only Pfizer and Moderna vaccines would be administered to the recipients under the age group.

In Ilocos Norte, the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center targeted to vaccinate at least 100 minors on Friday, prioritizing those who were existing hospital patients suffering from cancer, heart diseases, tuberculosis, renal disorder, heart diseases, genetic conditions, obesity, among others.

The vaccination drive in the hospital will resume on November 2. The hospital has been allocated at least 2,340 Pfizer-made vaccines for the inoculation of minors.

In Ilocos Sur, Vigan Mayor Juan Carlo Medina said that they were looking to vaccinate all eligible under the general pediatric population, including those without comorbidities, beginning the first week of November to protect them from the virus and in preparation for the resumption of face-to-face classes.

To fast-track the vaccination drive, Vigan’s daycare workers and health workers from villages will conduct a house-to-house registration among its pediatric population.

At least 2,326,130 COVID-19 vaccines has been administered in the Ilocos region so far, according to data from the DOH. – Rappler.com

John Michael Mugas is a Luzon-based journalist and an awardee of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship.

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