THE Department of Health (DOH)-Davao is pushing for the region to be included in the Phase 3 implementation of the vaccination for individuals aged 12 to 17 years old with comorbidities by November this year.
DOH-Davao Vaccination Program focal person Dr. Janis Olavides said the pilot implementation of the pediatric vaccination is currently being conducted at the National Capital Region (NCR).
Olavides said the first phase was conducted in selected hospitals in NCR, while for the second phase, the vaccination was expanded in all other hospitals in NCR.
The third phase of the implementation will then follow to include all regions that have exceeded vaccinating 50 percent of their target senior citizen population.
"Pinu-push talaga natin ang (We are really pushing for the) vaccination for the seniors," Olavides said on Monday, October 18, during the DOH-Davao virtual presser.
As of October 18, the region has already covered 47 percent of the target number of senior citizens to be vaccinated.
Olavides said local government units (LGUs) have been informed about this to strategize more and find the unvaccinated senior citizens.
She said some local government units (LGUs) in the region are still struggling to achieve at least 50 percent full immunization of their senior citizens.
She added that they had monitored that some seniors refused to get vaccinated, citing religious beliefs as among those factors for their refusal to get vaccinated.
Olavides said they already met with the different local chief executives to discuss how they can speed up their vaccination rollout, and convince those who are still hesitant to get vaccinated.
“We reiterated the importance for the Provincial Health Office and government to look into the output per municipality para (so that) they will help and be of assistance sa mga munisipyo sa kakailanganing tulong (to the municipalities of their needed help) to increase their vaccination activity,” she said.
Olivades, meanwhile, said they have yet to provide the full list of hospitals to be designated as vaccination hubs for the pediatric vaccination.
Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Chief Dr. Ricardo Audan, however, already confirmed in a recent interview that the hospital is included.
Those who will be prioritized in the pediatric vaccination are those with comorbidities. Parent’s consent will also be required before they will be administered with the Covid-19 vaccine.
The vaccine brands to be inoculated to these age groups have yet to be announced.
The Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization to Moderna and Pfizer for the use of their mRNA vaccines in children aged 12 to 17 years old.