A minor gets vaccinated in Caloocan City on Oct. 22, 2022, the first day of the second phase of vaccination of children with comorbidities. Image courtesy of Caloocan City Public Information Office
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Phase 2 of vaccination of minors with comorbidities against COVID-19 began in several Metro Manila hospitals and vaccination sites on Friday, the Department of Health (DOH) announced.
Separate ceremonial vaccinations and a brief program were conducted at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City, Ospital ng Paranaque, and Quezon City General Hospital to mark the second phase of inoculation of minors aged 12 to 17.
鈥淕etting vaccinated against the virus, not only the adults, but also eligible children based on the Department of Health policies and guidelines will make a better environment for the kids,鈥� said Health Undersecretary Roger Tong-an during the ceremonial vaccination at Cardinal Santos Medical Center.
Aside from the said three hospitals, the second phase of immunization also commenced in 16 hospitals and areas near hospitals:
Caloocan City Medical Center (North and South)
Ospital ng Malabon
Navotas City Hospital
Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital
Marikina Sports Complex which is near Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center
Quezon City General Hospital
St. Luke鈥檚 Medical Center Quezon City
Ospital ng Maynila
Ospital ng Makati
SM Megamall Mega Vaccination Site which is near Mandaluyong City Medical Center
Cardinal Santos Medical Center
Ospital ng Muntinlupa
Ospital ng Para帽aque 1
University of Perpetual Help System Dalta
Pasay City General Hospital
St. Luke鈥檚 Medical Center 鈥� Global City
Meanwhile, the following eight hospitals where the pilot phase was conducted are continuing the vaccination of minors:
Philippine Children鈥檚 Medical Center
National Children鈥檚 Hospital
Philippine Heart Center
Pasig City Children鈥檚 Hospital
Fe Del Mundo Medical Center
Philippine General Hospital
St. Luke鈥檚 Hospital-Global City
Makati Medical Center
The Phase 1 vaccination on minors began on Saturday.
Tong-An reiterated that the initial phase of vaccination of minors was conducted in hospitals since they have the capacity to manage possible serious adverse reactions to vaccines and facilitate easy referral of minors with underlying conditions, some of which are confined in the said hospitals.
鈥淎s with the vaccination process of the adults, the vaccination for children will be closely monitored to detect adverse events following immunization to ensure the safety of our young vaccine recipients,鈥� Tong-An said.
The DOH is yet to release a total number of minors who received vaccines as the vaccinations were still ongoing.