By Filane Mikee Cervantes / Philippine News Agency
President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday (Oct. 19) said the government will expand its pediatric COVID-19 inoculations to 13 more hospitals in Metro Manila.
In his Talk to the People public address, Duterte said there are presently eight hospitals participating in the pilot run of the COVID-19 pediatric vaccination effort in the National Capital Region (NCR).
These are the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Pasig City Children’s Hospital, Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital-Global City, and the Makati Medical Center.
Duterte said more than 1,100 minors aged 15 to 17 with comorbidities received their first dose of vaccine on the first day of vaccination of minors on Oct. 15.
“I am happy to report that on the first day of inoculation of minors on Oct. 15, more than 1,100 minors with comorbidities were given their first dose of vaccine against COVID-19. Also, we will expand the vaccination of this adolescent age group of 12 to 17 by adding 13 more hospitals in the NCR,” he said.
Children with any of these comorbidities are eligible for vaccination:
- Medical complexity or those with long term dependence on technical support;
- Genetic conditions;
- Neurologic conditions;
- Metabolic or endocrine diseases;
- Cardiovascular diseases;
- Obesity;
- HIV ((human immunodeficiency virus) infection;
- Tuberculosis;
- Chronic respiratory diseases;
- Renal disorders;
- Hepatobiliary diseases;
- Those who are immunocompromised due to disease or treatment. (PNA) – jlo
