The Pateros municipal government is aiming to vaccinate 6,000 minors aged five to 11 years old.

According to Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III, the municipal government is ready for the vaccination of the age group, which will start with a pilot run on Feb. 4 in selected sites in Metro Manila.

“We have long been ready for this. We are just awaiting the guidelines. Because we are also vaccinating 12 to 17 years old, this means that when it comes to pediatric vaccination we have already completed the requirements,” said Ponce in a recent “Laging Handa” public briefing.

The national government will roll out the vaccination of 5-to-11-year-old kids in Metro Manila on Feb. 4 at the Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, Manila Zoo, SM North EDSA (Skydome), and Filoil Gym in San Juan.

According to Ponce, the Pateros municipal government has launched the registration for 5 to 11 years old via QR code.

Of the 6,000 target population for the age group, about 40 percent, or 2,400 kids, have already registered, he said.

“Based on our experience in our town, at the start people are still observing but once this is rolled out for two weeks, the acceptance by the public is fast,” he said.

According to Ponce, the municipal government is almost finished vaccinating 12 to 17 years old, saying, “I believe that once the vaccination of 5 to 11 starts, we can speed up their vaccination.”

Pateros also launched a drive-thru booster vaccination last Jan. 24 to increase the number of recipients.

Those allowed to use the drive-thru are 18 to 65 without comorbidities and have received their primary dose in Pateros.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved last December the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be used in 5 to 11 years old.