After the successful initial run of COVID-19 vaccinations for minors aged 12 to 17 with comorbidities, the San Juan City local government has started the inoculation of the rest of its pediatric residents on Wednesday, Nov. 3.

“Following the IATF’s (Inter-Agency Task Force's) guidelines in vaccinating 12-17 years old and after our initial run at Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC), we are officially launching our pediatric vaccination to our younger population in the main vaccination center ,” San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora said.

Vaccine recipients who have comorbidities and those who are fit and healthy to receive the jab will receive Moderna and Pfizer-made vaccines, the only vaccines that were able to get an Emergency Use Authorizarion (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration.

“We are immediately launching this vaccination drive because we want to protect the children and help them get their lives back on track. This is also to give them protection from COVID-19 once they go back to face-to-face classes,” Zamora added.

The mayor explained that unlike the previous vaccine rollouts in the city, the pediatric vaccination has more stringent steps.

Prior to vaccination, vaccinees with comorbidities must have a medical clearance from a doctor, consent from parents or guardian for all vaccinees, a signed assent form from the vaccine recipient, and documents proving relationship with guardian and child. Without these, the child will not be allowed to get vaccinated.

Zamora said that parents or guardians who are not yet vaccinated can also get their vaccine on the same day as their child to increase the level of protection in each family from the coronavirus.

He also encouraged parents to sign up their kids if they are eligible to receive the vaccine for the San Juan City vaccine registration program at https://bit.ly/3BI9PZv.