Low minors vax turnout noted
City hall and health officials in Manila on Monday noted less than enthusiastic response to the vaccination of minors undertaken in the capital city over the weekend.
While Manila expected about 150 minor-vaccinees per inoculation site, only 80 minors showed up with their parents to receive the Covid-19 jabs at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center.
The turnout at the Sta. Ana Hospital was even lower at 50 minor-vaccinees, prompting Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso to ask the national government to already make nationwide the vaccination of minors aged 12 to 17 years old.
The national government has set for 29 october the nationwide rollout of the vaccination of minors following its pilot-testing in Metro Manila.
A total of 222 minors had their first doses at the ospital ng Maynila, a number that served as an exception as it eclipsed the day’s target by 72.
A doctor, Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and Manila Health Department chief Dr. Arnold Pangan made the rounds of the hospitals serving as jab sites for minors. With them was Rep. Yul Servo who assisted Lacuna in administering the vaccines to some minors.
Lacuna did not rule out vaccine hesitancy and the rains as possible reasons for the low turnout.
At the Justice Abad Santos General Hospital, its director Dr. Merle Sacdalan said some parents informed them that their children scheduled for vaccination were having exams.
Sta. Ana Hospital chief Dr. Grace Padilla said the number of minor-vaccinees with comorbidities may increase in the coming days.