Tacloban City — The Department of Health (DOH) is set to administer vaccinations to approximately 239,190 learners across Eastern Visayas, launching an extensive school-based immunization effort in collaboration with the Department of Education.
According to Philippines News Agency, Jelyn Lopez-Malibago, DOH regional information officer, stated in a recent interview that the ‘Bakuna Eskwela’ program is designed to provide free vaccines to public school students. The campaign aims to reach 86,852 Grade 1 students, 49,546 Grade 4 female students, and 102,792 Grade 7 students across the region’s six provinces by November. “In Eastern Visayas, the DOH is targeting to vaccinate 95 percent of eligible children in Grades 1 and 7 with the measles-rubella and tetanus-diphtheria vaccines, as well as 90 percent of Grade 4 female students with the human papillomavirus vaccine to prevent cervical cancer,” Malibago elaborated.
The initiative is part of a national campaign by the DOH and the Department of Education aimed at safeguarding students from vaccine-preventable diseases, including tetanus, diphtheria, measles, rubella, and cervical cancer. The vaccination program was officially launched on October 7 at San Fernando Central School in Tacloban City.
The health department is actively encouraging parents and guardians to ensure their eligible children participate in the vaccination drive, highlighting its critical role in disease prevention and health promotion among the youth.