A 99-year-old Muntinlupa resident got his COVID-19 vaccine Thursday and said he did not experience any adverse effects.
Romeo “Lolo Bob” Javier, a resident of Alabang Hills Village, was administered the Moderna brand through Muntinlupa’s drive-thru vaccination program at Festival Mall upper ground floor in Alabang.
Cecilia Javier-Hontiveros, his daughter, told the Manila Bulletin that people in their household, who are all vaccinated, decided to let their father get the jab due to the surging number of cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country, especially the Delta variant.
Hontiveros said their father did not experience any side effects of the vaccine and just felt sleepy after getting the shot.
The elder Javier was an athlete and was engaged in golf and tennis. He eats healthy food.
Hontiveros described him as an original “plantito,” or someone who loves planting and gardening, saying his father “talks to plants and hugs the trees.”
Lolo Bob is also known for buying old homes, including ancestral houses that he restores to their original form.
The staff of Muntinlupa Councilor Ryan Bagatsing helped Javier when he got vaccinated via drive-thru.
Bagatsing said people like Javier, who got the jab at 99, is an inspiration and will help in motivating other senior citizens to get vaccinated.
“First, it can motivate and attract seniors who are hesitant to get vaccinated. Second, his children and relatives trust our system and that of MunCoVac and they did not hesitate to bring Lolo Bob, who is 99 years old, to the vaccination site,” he said.
The Muntinlupa City government has been ramping up its vaccination output through the opening of nine new vaccination sites in the city.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi has called on the public, especially senior citizens, to register with the vaccination program and get the jab for their own protection.
As of Aug. 11, Muntinlupa has deployed 368,856 vaccines including 223,822 individuals who received the first dose, or 58 percent of the target population of 385,725. The first dose total includes 4,359 individuals who received the single shot Janssen vaccine.
In addition, 145,034 individuals are now fully vaccinated in Muntinlupa, or 37.6 percent of the target.