DOH to launch nationwide school vaccination program on Oct. 7 — Herbosa

A nationwide school vaccination program called “Bakuna-Eskwela” by the Department of Health and Department of Health is set to start on October 7, expanding the National Immunization Program (NIP).

At a press briefing, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. fully supports the NIP with an increased budget of P2.3 billion to fund the vaccine acquisition and administration nationwide.

With this, the agency aims to intensify the immunization programs to achieve a higher 'fully immunized children' goal.

“Ito iyong ating programa, inimbitahan ko si Presidente to help us and lead us in the Bakuna-Eskwela. It is a libreng bakuna para sa Grade 1 at Grade 7. Bibigyan sila ng measles at Rubella vaccine, at tetanus and diphtheria. So makukuha na rin namin pati iyong zero dose children. Tapos  iyong Grade 4 na babae, na batang babae, nine years old ito, mabibigyan sila ng human papillomavirus vaccine or iyong anti-cervical cancer vaccine,” said Herbosa.

(This is our program, I invited the President to help us and lead us in the Bakuna-Eskwela. It is a free vaccine for Grade 1 and Grade 7. They will be given measles and rubella vaccine, and tetanus and diphtheria. So we can get those zero-dose children as well. Then your Grade 4 girl, who is a girl, is nine years old, will be given the human papillomavirus vaccine or your anti-cervical cancer vaccine.)

“So may kick-off kami ‘no, mangyayari ito sa October 7 sa Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School at nationwide po ito. We will do the launch on October 7, pero every Friday for the month of October, puwedeng magpabakuna ang mga batang gustong magpabakuna sa lahat ng eskuwelahan ng DepEd. Kasama ko po dito si Secretary Sonny Angara sa pag-launch nito at pag-implementa ng programa ng school-based immunization,” he added.

(So we have a kick-off, no, it will happen on October 7 at Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School and it's nationwide. We will do the launch on October 7, but every Friday for October, children who want to be vaccinated can get vaccinated at all DepEd schools. I am here with Secretary Sonny Angara in the launch and implementation of the school-based immunization program.)

Herbosa said that they are also looking at the possibility of expanding the program to private schools, but for now, the agency prioritizes the students in public schools.

He added that parental consent is still required for the vaccination but noted that it is not mandatory.

“Kaya nga 95% lang ang target eh, we expect around 5% ‘no – either baka may contraindication. Kung minsan, sinabihan ng pediatrician nila or doctor nila na may allergy sa bakuna, hindi pupuwedeng bakunahan so iri-research natin iyan. Kung minsan belief nila, religious belief – mahirap yata iyon kasi that’s their right ‘di ba,” he said.

(That's why the target is only 95%, we expect around 5% 'no - either there might be a contraindication. Sometimes, their pediatrician or their doctor told them that they have an allergy to the vaccine, and that they cannot be vaccinated, so we will research that. Sometimes they believe, religious beliefs - I guess that's difficult because that's their right, right?)

Along with other government agencies and the private sector, the Health Department aims to amplify its message, “Every Filipino Deserves a Shot at Life-long Protection.”

Which, apart from students, the NIP also prioritizes pregnant women, newborn babies, infants below one year old, children and adolescents, and senior citizens.

“So currently, a total of 16 vaccine-preventable diseases iyan, kasi nagbibigay din tayo ng dalawa sa ating pregnant mothers. Iyong dalawang iyon ay ang tetanus at diphtheria, iyong TD vaccine, binibigay natin sa mga buntis. At nagbibigay din tayo sa mga senior citizen, iyon iyong pneumococcal vaccine,” he said.

(So currently, that's a total of 16 vaccine-preventable diseases, because we also give two to our pregnant mothers. Those two are the tetanus and diphtheria, the TD vaccine, we give to pregnant women. And we also give senior citizens, that pneumococcal vaccine.)

Herbosa shared that among the country’s achievements in the health sector is the neonatal tetanus elimination and polio-free status.

“And then, naibigay din iyong ni-request ko, iyong human papillomavirus para sa ating mga batang babae to prevent ng cervical cancer. Cervical cancer ang pinakapangatlo sa number of cancer cases in the Philippines,” he noted.

(And then, what I requested was also given, that human papillomavirus for our girls to prevent cervical cancer. Cervical cancer ranks third in the number of cancer cases in the Philippines.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News