ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--Intensifying the campaign to achieve the herd immunity against the coronavirus disease (COVID)-19, the local government here through the close collaboration between the City Health Office (CHO), Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Education (DepEd) officially commenced Monday, November 8, the pediatric vaccination intending to inoculate minors aging 12 to 17 years old and their unvaccinated parents.

The launching of the pediatric vaccination was held at the Iligan City National High School (ICNHS) being one of the newest activated vaccination sites in the city.  

Mayor Celso Regencia said that with this rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, the youth and parents are ensured that they will already be free to roam the city and live the normal life in no time when the city reaches herd immunity which is targeted to be attained before the year ends.

“Kung mabakunahan tanan, sigurado ko nga protektado na [tanan]. Bisan asa na maglakaw-lakaw ug tanang mga kalihukan ato nang mahimo tungod kay protektado kita,” he said.

[If everyone will be vaccinated, I am sure that [everyone] will be protected. Anywhere we go and all our activities will be done because we are vaccinated.]

Vice Mayor Jemar Vera Cruz reiterated Pope Francis’ statement that vaccination is an act of love as he emphasized that to be vaccinated is the sole key to save everyone’s lives from this persisting global health crisis.

“If you love yourselves, your families and the people next to you, kinahanglan magpabakuna gyud ta kay mao ra ni ang pamaagi nga maluwas nato ang atong pamilya, kaugalingon ug dakbayan niining pandemya. Kinahanglan magpabakuna gyud ta,” he said.

[If you love yourselves, your families, and the people next to you, we need to be vaccinated because this is the only way to save our family, ourselves, and the city from this pandemic. We really need to be vaccinated.]

Apart from the ICNHS, the Adventist Medical Center - Iligan (AMCI) was also set as a hospital-based vaccination site with pediatricians ready to cater to minors with or without comorbidities.

Other vaccination areas like Robinsons Place Iligan, La Salle Academy, and ICNHS will accommodate the general population aged 18 years old and above, and minors of 12 to 17 years old without comorbidities.

As the local government ramps up its vaccination drive, it also continues to urge the public to participate and not be afraid of the vaccines.

Regencia said the public should not be worried to admit their current medical status when screened before the vaccination as doctors and nurses in attendance confidently know which vaccines are appropriate to be inoculated to each one with existing records. 

DOH - Center of Health Development in Northern Mindanao Regional Licensing and Enforcement Division Chief Dr. Cheryl Balane likewise called on students to help in disseminating the right information about the vaccines as she said that although these do not give 100% assurance to not be infected with the virus, these will prevent the patients from being critical or worse, die of the diseases. 

As per the recorded data, the city’s total population is roughly 372,770, and 70% of this is estimated to be 260,940 including minors ages 12 to 17 years. (CRG/PIA-Lanao del Norte)