Pediatric A3 COVID-19 vaccination opens in Cordillera

Pediatric A3 COVID-19 vaccination opens in Cordillera

BAGUIO (PIA) –The Coronavirus Diseases (COVID – 19) vaccination program in Cordillera is now open to 12 – 17 years old children with comorbidity or the Pediatric A3 group.

The Pediatric A3 vaccination was launched Friday (Oct. 29) in Baguio City and   Benguet with the   Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center and the Benguet General Hospital in   La Trinidad as the initial vaccination sites.  

The rollout at the BeGH was led by Department of Health Undersecretary Dr.  Myrna Cabotaje.

The Regional Vaccination Operation Center headed by the Department of Health Center for Health and Development Cordillera (DOH – CAR) is now also coordinating with the provincial/city local government units for the opening of other vaccination sites for Pediatric A3.   Health facilities are the preferred vaccination sites though non-hospital vaccination site is also allowed as long as there are health specialists for children and a Rapid Response Team available at all times. 

For the 12 to 17 years old children with comorbidities, pre-registration to the LGU vaccination program is encouraged and a DOH – prescribed medical certificate is required. Taking of vital signs and thorough screening and after vaccination, monitoring must be implemented.

Meantime, Dr. Anachris Kilakil of the Cordillera RVOC announced that the National Vaccination Operations Center has issued the guidelines on the rollout of COVID – 19 vaccination to the Rest of the Pediatric Population by next week or at least by November 5. This will simultaneously be conducted with the priority A group, the rest of the adult population, and the Pediatric A3.

The estimated number of 12 to 17 – year old children in CAR  is  208,275, which is 11.43 percent of the 1,822,719 2021 projected population in the region.  Based on the National Task Force on COVID – 19 and the NVOC, the target is to vaccinate at least 80% percent of the country’s pediatric population by the end of the year.  

Only Pfizer and Moderna have Emergency Use Authorization from the Philippine Food and Drug Administration for the vaccination of the pediatric population. 

Kilakil said there are still  Pfizer and   Moderna vaccines deployed at the different provinces including Baguio City which can be used for the pediatric population.  She shared  that 38,310 doses of Pfizer, which is good for the two-dose requirement of 19,305 vaccines are expected to be delivered to the region from October 30 to November 5. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)

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