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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Quezon City opens listup for COVID vax for kids

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With its vaccination drive in full swing, the Quezon City government continues its preparation for the inclusion of the pediatric population with co-morbidities against COVID-19.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said they have opened the registration for minors with co-morbidities while waiting for vaccine supply.

She said parents or guardians of these minors may register them at the QCVaxEasy website: www.qceservices.quezoncity.gov.ph/qcvaxeasy, or through their barangays.

Belmonte vowed to ensure the safety of the children in the city’s 142 villages.

“Now that we are close to reaching our 1.7million target population of fully vaccinated eligible individuals, it is high time that we expand our vaccination drive to children with co-morbidities who, like the individuals with co-morbidities belonging to A3, are also highly at risk of getting sick with the virus,” she stressed.

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“For months, we have been focused on inoculating 80 percent of Quezon City’s adult population or 1.7 million individuals 18 and above and we have now vaccinated close to 200,000 more than that target. It is now time to shift our attention to minors because they are also vulnerable to the virus.”

“Moreover, they comprise about 30 percent of the city’s approximately 3.1 million population and it is impossible to achieve population protection, which requires vaccination of 80 percent of our total population without including them,” she noted. Rio N. Araja

Minors from 12-17 with existing co-morbidities shall be tagged under Pediatric A3 in the list of priority sectors.

Co-morbidities include medical complexity, genetic conditions, neurologic conditions, metabolic/endocrine diseases, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, HIV infection, tuberculosis, chronic respiratory diseases, renal disorders, hepatobiliary diseases, and those who are immunocompromised due to disease or treatment.

Only Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have been approved for the inoculation of the minors, Dr. Malu Eleria of the QC Task Force Vax to Normal said.

“Since we are starting the registration process, we will be requesting for the allocation of vaccines from the national government depending on the list of registrants generated,” she said.

According to the city government, the Department of Health has already started rolling out its vaccination drive for minors with co-morbidities in nine hospitals in Metro Manila, four of which are Quezon City hospitals – the National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center and Fe Del Mundo Hospital.

Also, the city government is set to launch an information campaign that aims to create awareness on the role of its Local Legislative Department and which will showcase the different advocacies and accomplishments of its city council.

Spearheaded by Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, the campaign is the highlight of the first-ever virtual Quezon City Legislation Week from Oct. 19 to 22.

Sotto emphasized the importance of education for a meaningful working partnership with the constituents.

“Our city government, led by Mayor Joy Belmonte, encourages our QCitizens, especially the younger generation, to use their voice and become more active in our community. But all these will be futile without education. We need to educate and equip ourselves in line with our goal to serve our city and country,” he said.

“Education breeds transparency. When QCitizens are informed, it creates an atmosphere of transparency that forces our elected officials to be accountable for their actions. It is our citizens’ weapon against any abuse of power,” he said.

Meanwhile, City Councilor Patrick Michael “PM” Vargas wants more jobs, shelters, health programs and more free Wi-Fi connections in District 5 for school children without broadband connection at home.

During the Serbisyo sa Bayan Party (SBP) online meeting with the media, Vargas said tax incentives would encourage more investors to come to Quezon City, thus creating more job opportunities for the residents.

He lauded the city government for its low-cost socialized shelter program, citing “we have seen reforms. One can own a decent house with one having to pay only P800 a month. It is the dream of every Filipino to have a house… not only a house but a home.”

Vargas is running for Congress in the May 2022 elections to replace his older brother, Rep. Alfred Vargas.

Because of the health issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he vowed “to put up more (for school children whose parents could not afford to have Wi-Fi at home), and to enhance our health programs.”

“I am proud to say that in District 5, in partnership with the private sector, we have set up fast and reliable Wi-Fi connections in 14 barangay halls in the district’s 14 villages.

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