Mandaluyong reports low number of minors receiving booster shots

The Mandaluyong City local government is seeing a low number of boosted minors, aged 12-17, in the city against Covid-19, according to a report by Manila Bulletin.

Based on the report of the City Health Office (CHO) on Saturday, Sept. 17, there were only 6,100 individuals in the said age group that have received their first booster shot since the launching of the booster vaccination program for the age group in July. This is equivalent to only 19 percent of the 31,000 individuals in the age group eligible for the first booster.

It added that only 197 minors with commorbidities have been boosted against the virus out of 2,800 individuals eligible for the booster shot.

The CHO said that Mandaluyong City had already administered 1,376,561 Covid-19 vaccines to its residents. Of this number, 559,563 individuals have already received their first dose while 543,105 have been fully vaccinated.

The city has also inoculated 249,382 individuals with their first booster shot while 53,888 have received their second booster.

The city government urged its residents to get vaccinated and boosted against Covid-19 to protect themselves and their loved ones against the virus, especially with the easing of the wearing of face masks in specific conditions outdoors.

On Aug. 23, Mandaluyong City launched three satellite vaccination sites located inside schools in a bid to expand vaccinations against Covid-19.

According to Mandaluyong City Mayor Ben Abalos, the CHD has been ordered to set-up vaccination sites at Rizal Technological University (RTU), Andres Bonifacio Integrated School (ABIS), and Isaac Lopez Integrated School (ILIS).

The vaccination sites in these schools will operate from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Students who wish to get vaccinated must have the consent of their parents.

CHD personnel at the vaccination sites will also help students in registering with the city’s MandaVax portal, the city’s Covid-19 vaccination database, if they haven’t registered yet.

“We know that getting vaccinated is crucial for our children who will attend face-to-face classes. We want them to be protected. And of course we are reminding all our students to continue practicing the minimum health protocols even if they are vaccinated,” Abalos said.

He added that more vaccination sites will be set up in schools in the coming days.