The Makati City local government received on Friday over 76,000 choco malt drinks to be distributed to children aged 5-11 years old who will be inoculated against COVID-19.
According to the Makati Health Department (MHD), the city received 76,800 packs of Choco Hero powdered chocolate malt drinks from Rise Against Hunger Philippines (RAHP), an international hunger relief organization that distributes food and aid to different parts of the world.
The turnover ceremony was held at SM Makati, one of the city's designated pediatric vaccination site, and was attended by City Administrator Claro Certeza, RAHP Executive Director Jomar Fleras, Makati City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) Incident Commander Dr. Roy Unson, CESU Logistics Head Dr. Geoffrey Felipe, and RAHP Partnership and Community Engagement Lead Leni Rose Renton.
The LGU said that aside from chocolates, the city has started distributing powdered drinks in sachets to children aged 5 to 11 after getting their anti-COVID-19 shot.
The sweet treats are being given to increase the number of children vaccinees and ease their anxiety about the vaccination.
“The sweet treat is meant to reward them and, at the same time, make them happy,” Makati City Mayor Abby Binay said.
Binay urged the parents of the children in the 5-11 age group to have them vaccinated against COVID-19.
“They are among the vulnerable sectors that can suffer serious complications if they get infected,” Binay said.
In a Viber message to Manila Bulletin, the LGU said that a total of 15,873 children aged 5-11 years old have already been vaccinated against the coronavirus as of Feb. 20.