Nearly 9,000 minors from 12 to 17-year-olds have already signed up for the Muntinlupa City government’s vaccination registration program.
According to the city government, from Sept. 14 to 20, or in one week after its launch, 8,812 people belonging to the 12-17 age group are now registered.
The total translates to 16 percent of Muntinlupa’s total population of 55,391 of 12 to 17-year-olds based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing data from Muntinlupa’s City Planning and Development Office.
When the vaccination registration for minors was launched last Sept. 14, a total of 3,477 minors registered.
By barangay, out of the 8,812, Putatan has the highest number of registrants with 1,623, followed by Tunasan, 1,218; Poblacion, 1,153; Alabang, 978; Cupang, 781; Sucat, 570; Ayala Alabang, 493; Bayanan, 484; and Buli, 154. Non-residents who registered totaled 1,358.
Of the 55,391 population of 12 to 17-year-old in Muntinlupa, Poblacion has the highest number with 12,243 followed by Putatan, 10,164; Alabang, 7,244; Tunasan, 6,256; Cupang, 5,830; Sucat, 5,744; Bayanan, 3,990; Ayala Alabang, 2,560; and Buli, 1,360.
As of Sept. 17, the Muntinlupa City COVID-19 Vaccination Program has administered 554,197 vaccines.
A total of 324,690 individuals have received their first dose, or 84.2 percent of the target population of 385,725. In addition, 233,866 people are now fully vaccinated, or 60.6 percent of the target.
The country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had earlier agreed to amend the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) given to Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines to make them available for use for 12 years old and above.
However, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing on Sept. 20 that there is no recommendation yet from experts to vaccinate those belonging to the 12 to 17 years age bracket.
She said experts are still studying the safety of the vaccines when administered to 12 to 17-year-olds. She added that when the vaccine supply is stable, that is when there will be a discussion on vaccinating minors.