PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER on COVID-19 Response Secretary Vince Dizon on Friday graced the launching of the pediatric vaccination program in Mabalacat City Pampanga.
The local government of Mabalacat under the leadership of Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, in partnership with SM City Clark, successfully launched the city’s inaugural pediatric vaccination program at the IMAX Cinema.
Dizon, thanked the city and its private sector counterparts for adhering to the national task force’s call to make the vaccination site set-up conducive to children.
“Napakaganda ng set-up. Kinausap namin ang LGUs upang gawin namang espesyal ang pagbabakuna para sa mga bata. Nakakatuwa, parang children’s party ang dating dahil may mga mascot at giveaway. Nagpapasalamat din tayo sa mga private sector partners natin,” Dizon said.
Dizon noted Mabalacat City’s promising COVID-19 response and vaccination drive.
“Top performer ang Mabalacat sa vaccination hindi lamang sa Pampanga kundi sa buong Central Luzon. Hindi madali itong ginawa nina Mayor Cris at Vice Mayor Geld. I think ang Mabalacat, siya lang sa Pampanga na practically 100% ng target population ay naabot na niya, at tumutulong pa siya sa mga kapitbahay na munisipyo,” said Dizon.
A total of 150 Mabalaqueño children from the City Social Welfare Office’s (CSWDO) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program’s (4Ps) master list and Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) daycare students were inoculated against COVID-19 in the pilot rollout.
Mayor Garbo said the Mabalacat CRIS is targeting to jab 20,000 kids and as part of the strategy, the city government tapped Department Education (DepEd) schools, and daycare centers, as alternative vaccination and pre-registration hubs aside from the SM City Clark site.
He said the Local Youth and Development Office (LYDO) is also accepting pre-registration of children studying outside Mabalacat City.
“Inuna natin ang ating mga kabataang nabibilang sa mahihirap na pamilya dahil nakita natin sa ating karanasan na talaga sila ay hirap kahit sa simpleng pagpunta lamang sa mga vaccination sites at dahil narin sa kanilang agam-agam sa bakuna,” the mayor said.
