A total of 150 children belonging to the marginalized sector were inoculated during the inaugural implementation of the city’s pediatric vaccination program at the IMAX Cinema, SM City Clark here on Friday.

Mayor Crisostomo Garbo, together with Vice Mayor Gerald Aquino, and Presidential Adviser on Covid-19 Response Secretary Vince Dizon, led the officials who were present during the vaccination of children.

The kids were chosen from the list of the City Social Welfare and Development Office’s (CSWDO) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, and Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) daycare students.

“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 na rin sa kanilang agam-agam sa bakuna (We prioritize those children belonging to the poor families because based on experience they are indeed having difficulties even in simply going to the vaccination sites and also because of their doubts on the vaccines),” Garbo said during the ceremonial launch.

The mayor said the Mabalacat Covid-19 Response Integrated System (CRIS) is targeting to inoculate some 20,000 Mabalaqueño children.

Dizon, meanwhile, said he was impressed by how the city and its private sector counterpart adhered to the national task force’s call to make the vaccination site set-up attractive for 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 (The set-up is so beautiful. We talked with the LGUs and asked them to make the vaccination for children special. It is like a children’s party because of the mascot and giveaways. We are also thankful to our private sector partners),” he said.

Dizon also recognized 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 Gerald. I think ang Mabalacat, siya lang sa Pampanga na practically 100 percent ng target population ay naabot na niya, at tumutulong pa siya sa mga kapit-bahay na munisipyo (Mabalacat is top performer in terms of vaccination not only in Pampanga but also in the entire Central Luzon. What Mayor Cris and Vice Mayor Gerald have been doing is not easy. I think Mabalacat is the only one in Pampanga that has practically attained 100 percent vaccination of the target population and is also helping other neighboring municipalities),” he said.

Meanwhile, Mabalacat City CRIS chief implementer Dr. Jose Antonio Rivera said the local government, together with the SM City Clark management, purposefully adopted a party theme for the vaccination hub to ease the anxiety of children who will be vaccinated.

“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 (We changed the setup of our IMAX vaccination site to entice our children to get vaccinated against Covid-19. The medical health workers of Mabalacat City are on standby to ensure the safety and comfort of the children and their parents during the entire process of the vaccination),” Rivera said.

Aside from the SM City Clark site, the city government also tapped Department Education (DepEd) schools and daycare centers, as alternative vaccination and pre-registration hubs.

The Local Youth and Development Office (LYDO) is also accepting pre-registration of children studying outside Mabalacat City. (PNA)