The Marikina city government is targeting schools as the venue for the city’s upcoming vaccination drive for children ages 5 to 11 years old, Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said on Friday, Feb. 4.

In an interview with ANC Headstart, Teodoro said schools are more practical venues for the vaccination of this age group because the city government will be able to utilize the existing connections between the school administration and the students.

“For example, consent from the parents can be secured through the teachers, and there is already an organization of classes that we can use not only in the registration of children but more importantly in the post-immunization monitoring. We need to establish the health database of children in the long run since the vaccination will be part of the ‘new normal’,” he said.

Teodoro said the vaccination venues intended for the kids will be child-friendly in order to minimize the possible traumatic experience of the children.

He said that the children are more familiar with the school environment and councilors, and school nurses may help in recording, monitoring, and providing the necessary coping strategies for the kids.

Teodoro explained that they are conducting group discussions among parents and children on how they will be vaccinated in their schools.

According to the city mayor, Marikina is aiming to inoculate 60,691 kids aged 5 to 11 COVID-19.

The local government unit also aims to administer the vaccines within 60 days.

Teodoro added that they are targeting to vaccinate 1,000 to 1,500 children daily to reach the target herd immunity.

“The other purpose really of vaccinating our children is to prepare them also for the eventual limited and safe face-to-face classes in schools,” he said in the interview.

The city has already vaccinated 85 to 88 percent of the children aged 12 to 17. (Cherrylin Caacbay)