Gov’t launches school vaccination program

Metro Manila, Philippines — The health and education departments launched the “Bakuna Eskwela” vaccination program on Monday, Oct. 7.

The school-based campaign will inoculate students against measles, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, and human papillomavirus (HPV).

The voluntary program will be free to public school learners on Fridays from October to November.

The government revived the school-based immunization program after its suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It aims to vaccinate 3.8 million public school students in Grades 1 and 7 for measles, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria.

Another 973,930 female Grade 4 students in selected public schools can get HPV shots for cervical cancer protection.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said funds are enough for the vaccination. In a news release, the DOH said the program has a budget of P853 million.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara also said he will address vaccine hesitancy through information dissemination,

As of Sept. 14, the DOH recorded 3,356 cases of measles and rubella with 11 deaths, 215 cases of diphtheria with 25 deaths, and 81 cases of neonatal tetanus with 44 deaths.

The agency said it tallied 7,897 women diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 4,052 die from the disease yearly.