Nationwide immunization program in public schools set

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health and Department of Education will implement this month the school-based immunization program in public elementary and high schools across the country.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones said the program is part of the government’s effort to address morbidity and mortality among school-age  children due to vaccine-related preventable diseases.

Under the program, students in Grades 1 and 7 will receive anti-tetanus and measles vaccines.

“The vaccines are provided for free and the vaccination will be conducted every August as a routine activity of the program,” Briones said.

She ordered regional directors, school division superintendents and other school officials to provide full support to the activity.

School health personnel were ordered to coordinate with the regional and provincial officials of the health department for the vaccination.

“Parental consent must be secured prior to the conduct of the vaccination,” Briones said.

Previous guidelines for the implementation of the vaccination will be adopted for this year’s school-based immunization program.