Quezon City eyes vaccination of 267K students

The Quezon City government on Wednesday said it is seeking to inoculate 267,000 students aged 12 to 17 as it prepares to roll out the vaccination for minors.

In a press statement, the local government said its QC Task Force Vax to Normal is coordinating with private and public schools in the city to enlist the number of enrolled students for this academic year.

Task force co-chairman Joseph Juico said they are also preparing an online booking system for the inoculation program for children once the supplies arrive.

Aside from students, Juico also said that "out-of-school youth, homeschooled, and students enrolled outside the city" will be included in their vaccination program.

Quezon City started preparing for children's vaccination after it already inoculated more than 80% of its eligible population or those aged 18 years old and above.

"It is now time to shift our attention to minors because they are also vulnerable to the virus. Moreover, they comprise about 30% of the city’s approximately 3.1 million population and it is impossible to reach herd immunity or 80% of total population without including them,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said in the same statement.

As of Sept. 15, the city administered 1,750,537 first doses or 102.97% of its target population. Of this number, fully vaccinated individuals were at 1,232,681 or 72.51% of the target population.

Other local government units in Metro Manila including  Pateros, Manila, Caloocan, Mandaluyong, and Taguig also opened registration for kids. —LBG, GMA News