The City Health Services Office is targeting to inoculate around 50,000 individuals aged 12 to 17 years old, as the city government launched the vaccination rollout for the pediatric population in Baguio on Oct. 29.
The Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center catered to 150 individuals with co-morbidities from the pediatric population on the first day with Pfizer as the vaccine brand used.
BGHMC and Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart are the two hospitals in Baguio identified for the initial vaccination of the pediatric population. In the coming days, the other vaccination sites will accommodate vaccinees who are 12 to 17 years old.
BGHMC Pediatric Disease Specialist, Dr. Mary Crist Jamora, said 80 of the vaccinees are dependents of hospital employees and 70 were from other parts of the city who have registered at the bakuna.baguio.gov.ph.
Jamora said the 150 vaccinees were accommodated at the BGHMC for the launching of the vaccination program.
The vaccinees were required to secure a medical certificate from their pediatrician and were asked to present proof of filiation or documents that prove their relationship.
Jamora said the consent of parents or guardians and even the vaccinees were also secured.
Before the vaccinees received their shots, Jamora said they and their parents/guardians were again counseled on the advantage and the possible side effects of the anti-Covid-19 vaccine and were subjected to a thorough screening.
After their shots, the vaccinees were subjected to an observation period for 30 minutes to an hour, according to Jamora.
As of Oct. 27, more than 4,000 12 to 17 years old with co-morbidities have so far enlisted in the city government’s vaccination registration portal.
Jamora also addressed the concerns raised on why the vaccination of the pediatric population with co-morbidities is hospital-based, which might expose the vaccinees and their parents/guardians to the threats of the Covid-19.
She said the BGHMC has set up entrance and exit areas for the vaccinees and their parents/guardians separate from that entrance and exit areas of patients seeking consultations at the hospital.
“The BGHMC is capable of accommodating vaccinees and their parents in a well-ventilated area, where physical distancing is observed and other minimum health protocols are complied with,” she said.
Baguio and La Trinidad, Benguet through the Benguet General Hospital are among the local government units in the country where the vaccination for the pediatric population with co-morbidities was rolled out. – Jane B. Cadalig
