After a day of delay, 780,000 Pfizer-BioNTech pediatric vaccines have finally arrived on Friday, February 5, 9:30 PM at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport via Air Hong Kong, procured by the national government through the World Bank.
The shipment was supposed to arrive onThursday, February 3, 2022, to meet the February 4 schedule of the first day of inoculation for children aged 5-11 years old, but there have been logistical challenges that were encountered, leading the government to move the schedule today, February 7.
“Gusto ko pong siguraduhin na ating mga magulang na ang bakuna pong ito ay ligtas at masusing pinag-aralan ng mga pinakamahusay na siyentipiko sa buong mundo.” vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said on yesterday’s statement.
At the moment, the only approved initial vaccination centers for the said age group will take place in the National Capital Region (NCR) amid the petition of two parents in the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to decline the jabs.
However, the vaccine czar confidently said that the court will align with the government’s mandate.
The Puerto Princesa City Covac page entails the list of off-site registration sites for the said age group but encourages only parents or guardians to personally go to these sites to refrain kids from having much public interaction that might endanger their health.
The sites are as follows: SM City Puerto Princesa, Robinsons Place Palawan, Puerto Princesa Underground River, and respective barangay halls.
Aside from the off-sites, the team also advises the parents to consider registering their child through Humanitarian Response.