The Quezon City government calls on parents to support and take part in the government’s immunization program to protect their children from various diseases.
Mayor Joy Belmonte said the city is ramping up its vaccination efforts amid the pandemic to make sure that kids receive their respective immunization shots.
“Kahit may pandemya ngayon, hindi natin hahayaan na hindi mabigyan ng nararapat na bakuna ang ating mga anak na itinuturing nating nasa vulnerable sector,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
The mayor assured that the Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) follow strict health protocols to prevent the risks of transmission of COVID-19 when conducting vaccination drives.
“We make sure that our city health workers follow the minimum health protocols and take extra precautions when giving vaccines. Hindi natin hahayaan na magkasakit ang ating vulnerable sector, as well as our frontliners, when doing our regular immunization drive,” Belmonte explained.
By the time they turn 12 months old, children should be already given one dose of Bacille Calmette-Guerin (vaccine to prevent latent Tuberculosis), three doses of Penta vaccine, three doses oral polio vaccine, and one dose inactivated polio vaccine. Hepatitis B vaccine is given at birth, and measles vaccine by the time they turn 9 months old and 12 months old.
Their parents and guardians must bring their children to the nearest health center to avail of the free vaccine.
“Naiintindihan natin ang pangamba ng ilang magulang sa pagdala ng ating mga anak sa mga center. Pero sinisiguro ng lungsod na ligtas ito dahil sumusunod ang ating health care workers sa health protocols,” said Belmonte.
“The best way to prevent diseases from spreading is through vaccines. It is our city’s responsibility to protect them from those,” she added.
According to QCHD head Dr. Esperanza Anita Arias, the city is facing various challenges due to the pandemic. From January to September 2020, the city has vaccinated 20,705 children which is only 38 percent of the target number of 54,413.
“Naka-schedule na yung vaccination natin. This is to ensure na limited at hindi crowded ang ating health center,” Arias said.
“Ngayong may pandemya, hindi tayo dapat tumigil sa pagbabakuna sa mga bata. Dapat mas pursigido tayo na mabakunahan ang lahat para hindi na magkaroon pa ng outbreak ng ibang sakit,” Arias explained.
