There were no adverse effects recorded among the more than 500 minors aged 12 to 17 years old with comorbidities who were vaccinated in Muntinlupa, the city government said.

From Oct. 25 to 29, a total of 559 children with comorbidities, classified as Pediatric A3 group, were vaccinated at the city-run Ospital ng Muntinlupa (OsMun) in Alabang.

According to OsMun, as of Nov. 1, there were no cases of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) recorded among the minors who were inoculated.

The Department of Health (DOH) defines AEFI as “unfavorable or unintended sign and/or symptom; abnormal laboratory finding; or disease that may arise after immunization. An AEFI may not necessarily be caused by the vaccine.”

OsMun is one of the pilot hospitals designated by the DOH for the vaccination of Pediatric A3 group.

As of Nov. 1, 16,399 minors aged 12 to 17 years old have registered with the Muntinlupa City COVID-19 Vaccination Program (MunCoVac), or 29.6 percent of the estimated total population of 55,391 for the age group.

Of the total registered, 1,363, or 8.31 percent, have comorbidities. By barangay, Putatan has the highest number of registrants with 2,816 followed by Poblacion, 2,253; Tunasan, 2,025; Alabang, 1,865; Cupang, 1,430; Sucat, 953; Bayanan, 903; Ayala Alabang, 735; and Buli, 235. Non-residents who registered with MunCoVac totaled 3,184.

Mayor Jaime Fresnedi is urging parents and guardians to register their kids and have them vaccinated as protection against the severe effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Comorbidities eligible for the Pediatric A3 vaccination are medical complexity, genetic conditions, neurologic conditions, metabolic/endocrine diseases, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, HIV Infection, tuberculosis, chronic respiratory diseases, renal disorders, hepatobiliary diseases and immunocompromised state due to disease or treatment.

The government currently uses Pfizer-BioNTech as a vaccine for minors, which is given in two doses, three weeks apart. Moderna has also been approved by the country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in people 12 years old and above.

Residents may register online through MunCoVac at vaccine.muntinlupacity.gov.ph/muncovac to receive a schedule. After receiving their schedule, vaccine recipients and their parents or guardians should proceed to the OsMun vaccination site.

A medical certification given by the attending physician detailing the comorbidity of the vaccine recipient should be secured prior to the vaccination schedule. It will be presented in the registration area during the vaccination schedule. A parent or guardian should also present a valid ID and proof of filiation such as a birth certificate.