To bolster vaccination efforts for children and adolescents, the Cebu City government on Tuesday launched the third pediatric vaccination center at a university in the city’s south district.

Mayor Michael Rama and Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros led other city and school officials in opening the inoculation site for those aged 12 to 17 at the Cebu Institute of Technology University (CIT-U).

Rama highlighted the duty of the state to ensure the welfare of the children as enshrined under the present Constitution, saying the city has to take care of their well-being amid the threat of Omicron, another variant of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

This variant was discovered in South Africa and has affected several countries, triggering a spike in cases.

“When the parents cannot do what they ought to do, then the government should come in. The government should come in and take charge as if they have become the parents of the children, the parents of the constituents,” Rama said in his speech.

He said children and adolescents in the city who have been vaccinated are not excluded in the program incentivizing inoculation, stressing that they, too, can win the prizes — a house and lot, cars, motorcycles, television sets, and gift certificates, among others – even if they are minors.

“Of course they are all qualified. We did not say that only adults, PWDs (persons with disabilities), and senior citizens who are vaccinated can win. All vaccinated residents are qualified,” he pointed out.

The CIT-U vaccination site is the third to open in the city for the children and adolescent population. The other two are at the Southwestern University-Phinma and Robinsons Cybergate.

The city is ramping up its vaccination effort for the youth to make them ready for the strict implementation of his directive disallowing entry of unvaccinated minors in both indoor and outdoor establishments here starting in January next year, even if they are accompanied by their parents.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, Department of Health’s regional chief pathologist, reported that as of December 5, Cebu City topped other localities in Metro Cebu in the total number of inoculated children at 107,997.

The DOH-Region 7 data also showed that Lapu-Lapu City vaccinated 50,934; Mandaue City — 30,374; Talisay City — 28,361; Naga City — 15,532; Minglanilla — 13,578; Consolacion — 5,852; and Cordova — 8,592. (PNA)