The Department of Health said on Monday that around 700,000 female public school students in 47 provinces will receive free vaccination against the human papillomavirus —a virus that causes cervical cancer as it launched the school-based immunization for the said virus.
The expanded program had a take-off inaugural vaccination activity at Addition Hills Integrated School in Mandaluyong City.
Done in cooperation with the Department of Education and the Department of the Interior and Local Government, over 180 Grade IV female students with consent from their parents were vaccinated with the quadrivalent HPV during the event.
Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said shifting the HPV vaccination from a community-based to a school-based approach enables her department to provide vaccination services to a ‘catch’ population.
"We will be able to reach high coverage and dropout rate will be minimized. School health settings will provide good opportunities to integrate vaccine delivery with other health interventions like health information and warnings against tobacco and drug use,” explained Ubial.
She noted that making modern healthcare solutions more readily available for people has always been one of the foremost thrust of the local government, especially when it comes to preventing unnecessary suffering.
She said HPV vaccination is part of the DoH’s National Immunization Program. She said vaccination is a basic right of children and that “no child shall be deprived of this right.”
"Our children are one of the most important assets of this country; therefore, every effort should be made to promote their welfare and optimum development. They should be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases. And what better way to do this than through vaccination,” she said.
Mandaluyong Mayor Carmelita Abalos also showed her support to the latest initiative of the health department.
The city's Congresswoman Queenie Gonzales, meanwhile, underscored the significance of vaccination in upholding health and quality of life for the family.
She said women have always been at the heart of the Filipino family and society. They are our mothers, sisters, and daughters.
"We must ensure their protection against diseases such as cervical cancer. Bringing the vaccines in schools, where the target beneficiaries are gathered, helps in intensifying the effort.”
Also gracing the occasion were Dr. Ponciano Menguito, DepEd Regional Director for NCR; Hon. Alexandria Gonzales, Representative-Lone District of Mandaluyong City; and Dr. Ariel Valencia, Regional Director of DoH-NCR.
Prior to the launching, community preparation activities like a series of orientation were conducted for the parents and guardians of Grade IV female pupils from the 22 public schools in Mandaluyong City.
The activities focused on providing parents and guardian and other stakeholders with basic information on HPV, its related diseases and vaccine.
Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In the Philippines, more than 6,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed every year. HPV infection causes more than 99 percent of cervical cancer cases among women.
