Cebu City starts booster shots for minors

Booster shots for minors 12 to 17 years old are now given a go by the Cebu City Health Department at the city’s regular vaccination sites.

Vaccinators started giving booster shots to the minors yesterday.

Booster shots for the said pediatric population can be administered after five months or more from the minor’s second dose.

To get the booster shots, they have to bring the vaccination card and medical certificate for those with comorbidities.

The birth certificate/ID of the child and parents or barangay clearance should also be brought for verification.

If the vaccinees will only have their guardians, the latter needs to secure an authorization letter and photocopy of the ID of the parent/s together with an original signature.

Regular vaccination sites that will give out booster shots for 12-17 years-olds include Ayala CenterCebu, Robinson’s Galleria, SM City Cebu, and SM Seaside City.

The regular sites will also be accommodating adults that are yet to receive their primary series and booster shots.

Other vaccination sites also open today (July 8), for the adults’ primary series as well as first and second boosters for the eligible population including Capitol Site and Guadalupe via Toktok Bakuna, Cebu City Hall, and Sudlon 2 gym.

Capitol Site, the City Hall grounds, and Sudlon 2 will also accommodate 12-17 years-olds, but only for their primary series along with the 5-11 year-olds.

For first-timers, they are reminded to register first via PaBakunaTa.com (https://vims. cebucity.gov.ph/page/portal) .

Department of Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, in yesterday’s virtual presser, said children who have been administered a different vaccine brand in its first two doses, can still get the Pfizer booster.

For immuno-compromised children, however, it is best to take their boosters in hospitals and medical centers.

Vergeire stressed the need to get vaccinated and boosted for continued protection from COVID-19 as additional cases of different variants were found in the country including one case of the B.A 5 in Region VII out of the 140 additional cases detected.

Aside from the B.A 5, there were also 20 more cases of the BA.2.12.1 variant detected and seven more BA.4, but none in Region VII for these variants.