San Jose de Buenavista, Antique — As part of its efforts to bolster public health among the youth, the Department of Health (DOH) in Antique targets to immunize 27,281 learners through its school-based immunization program for Measles-Rubella (MR), Tetanus Diphtheria (Td), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
According to Philippines News Agency, Dr. Rommel Garganera, the DOH Antique provincial head, emphasized the program’s renewal post-pandemic to protect learners from measles, pertussis, and other diseases during a press conference on Wednesday. “The school-based immunization resumed after the pandemic to provide the learners with protection,” Garganera noted.
Tesie Mae Bañes, the Antique Provincial Health Office National Immunization Program Coordinator, detailed that the vaccination effort will focus on 9,966 Grade 1 and 11,358 Grade 7 students for MR and TD, along with 5,957 Grade 4 female learners for the HPV vaccine. “We were not able to have school-based immunization since 2019 because the learners did not have face-to-face classes,” Bañes explained. She also mentioned that an additional month-long backup immunization campaign is planned for November to reach those not vaccinated in schools.
The initiative involves teams from Rural Health Units visiting schools, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), to ensure widespread coverage. The campaign commenced this Wednesday at Malandog Elementary School in San Jose de Buenavista town.
Dr. Cara Uy, PHO Medical Specialist II, called on parents to provide consent for their children’s vaccination. “We urge parents to support the school-based immunization for the sake of their children,” Uy stated, highlighting the importance of community cooperation in achieving public health goals.