MABALACAT CITY – The local government here under the leadership of Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, in partnership with SM City Clark, has successfully executed the inaugural implementation of the city’s Pediatric Vaccination Program for Children Aged 5-11 years old, on Friday (February 18, 2022) at the IMAX Cinema.
Presidential Adviser on COVID-19 Response Secretary Vince Dizon, who was present to oversee the program’s pilot implementation in Mabalacat City, was impressed by how the city and its private sector counterparts adhered to the national task force’s call to make the vaccination site set-up conducive to children.
“Napakaganda [ng set-up]. Kinausap namin ang mga 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,” said Secretary Dizon.
The national chief implementer also reiterated Mabalacat City’s promising COVID-19 response and vaccination drive. He said, “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 kapit-bahay na munisipyo”.
Meanwhile, Mabalacat City COVID-19 Response Integrated System (CRIS) Chief Implementer Dr. Jose Antonio Rivera said that the local government, together with the SM City Clark administration, purposefully themed the vaccination hub into a ‘party’ to ease anxiety and entice Mabalaqueño children to be vaccinated.
A total of 150 Mabalaqueño children from the City Social Welfare Office’s (CSWDO) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) master list and Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) daycare students were inoculated against the disease in the said pilot implementation.
“Binago natin ang set up ng ating IMAX vaccination hub upang maenganyo ang ating mga kabataan na magpabakuna laban sa COVID-19. Nakaantabay ang buong pwersa ng mga medical health workers ng Mabalacat City upang masiguro na ligtas at kumportable ang mga bata at ang kanilang mga magulang sa buong proseso ng pagbabakuna,” said Dr. Rivera.
For his part, Mayor Garbo through the Mabalacat CRIS is targeting to jab 20,000 Mabalaqueño children. 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. 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,” said Mayor Garbo.
“Tuluy-tuloy po ang ating bakunahan sa Mabalacat City. Taos-puso rin po ang ating pasasalamat sa ating mga katuwang mula sa pribadong sektor upang maisakatuparan ang ating vaccination program,” said the city mayor who was joined by Vice Mayor Gerald Aquino and Councilor Jun Castro during the ceremonial launch.
