The Pateros municipal government announced that the vaccination of minors aged five to 11 will start on Feb. 7.

Pateros Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III said this is to observe if there will be side effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine on kids.

“Palagay ko mas mabuti po ito para makapag-obserba rin tayo ng mga magiging side effects sa mga ibang bata na may edad na five to 11 na babakunahan naman po sa labas ng ating bayan o local government unit (I think this is better so we can also observe if there will be side effects to other kids aged 5 to 11 who will be vaccinated outside of our town or local government unit),” said Ponce during a live broadcast on Facebook on Feb. 2.

Ponce added, “Palagay ko ay mas magiging safe po ito para sa ating lahat kaya ang pakiusap ko po sa ating mga magulang na gustong magpabakuna ng kanilang five to 11 years old na anak, irehistro nyo na po sa ating QR code (I think this will be safe for all of us so I am urging parents who want their five to 11 kids to be vaccinated to register through our QR code).”

He said starting Feb. 7, the vaccination site at AMC Gym in Barangay San Roque will be devoted for the vaccination of five to 11 years old.

The national government will roll out the vaccination of five to 11 years in select sites in Metro Manila on Feb. 4.

The Pateros municipal government launched the vaccination registration for five to 11 years old last Dec. 28 using a QR code.

In the vaccination form for five to 11 years old, residents need to register the name of the child, birth date, indicate whether the child has a comorbidity, contact number, barangay, parents’ names, age and address.

During the “Laging Handa” public briefing last Jan. 27, Ponce said about 6,000 kids aged 5 to 11 will be vaccinated in Pateros, the smallest local government unit in the National Capital Region in terms of population.

“Matagal na po kaming nakahanda diyan. Hinihintay na lang natin iyong guidelines, ano po. Dahil tayo naman ay nagbakuna na rin ng 12 to 17, ibig sabihin pagdating sa pediatric vaccination ay nakumpleto na rin natin iyong mga requirements diyan (We have long been ready for this. We are just waiting for the guidelines. Because we have already vaccinated 12 to 17 , this means that when it comes to pediatric vaccination, we have already completed the requirements),” he said.

He said the municipal government is nearly done in vaccinating all 12 to 17 years old in Pateros.

The country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved last Dec. 22 the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for five to 11 years old.