By Rosenda Alluad
Tuguegarao City—The Department of Health (DOH) and other stakeholders launched the HPV vaccination and information campaign titled “Sa HPV vaccine, cervical cancer-free ang future natin!” with about 700 participant-students of Cagayan National High School at the Mamba Gym
in this city on Friday, February 17.
The school-based immunization program would protect learners against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection, Department of Health Undersecretary Enrique “Eric” Tayag said, noting that “cervical cancer is still the second most common cancer affecting women, with an estimated 7,277 new cases and 3,807 deaths due to cervical cancer expected yearly in the country.”
Tayag also led the vaccination of 150 students of the Cagayan National High School with HPV vaccines, which was pushed for community-based HPV immunization program that targeted girls aged 9 to 10. He also led the dancing of the health department’s vaccination jingle.
Tayag cited that almost 99% of cervical cancer cases have been linked to infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV), a common
virus primarily transmitted through sexual contact. While 90% of HPV infections have no symptoms and clear up eventually, persistent HPV infections can cause cervical cancer in women.
“While these statistics are alarming, there is still hope: cervical cancer is also one of the most vaccine-preventable diseases in the world. And if the world aims to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, all countries must work together to fully vaccinate 90% of girls against HPV before age 15. Enforcing school-based immunization programs will help countries meet this global goal,” he added.
A learner will receive the vaccine twice, this February and then in September for the 150 initial vaccinated students.
Through the “Kalasag ng Kalusugan” commitment exercise, representatives from different stakeholder groups also pledged their continued support to public health. “Kalasag ng Kalusugan,” which translates to “health shield,” reflects the collective commitment of the local and the national government to strengthen the public’s “health shield” through immunization.
Tayag said students must learn more about HPV and how to prevent HPV infection through vaccination and ask their school nurses and other assigned focal persons about the DOH’s school-based HPV immunization program.
“Together, let us amplify the value of immunization as a basic right of every child and how this vital early healthcare intervention can
propel them toward a healthier and brighter future,” he added.
Mayor Maila Ting-Que said the city government would regularly promote immunization in villages and schools in support of the health
department’s program aside from setting aside funds to augment the national government in its vaccination drive.
Cervical cancer is still the fourth most common cancer afflicting women globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Between 2018 and 2030, the WHO projects that new cervical cancer cases will increase from 570,000 to 700,000 annually, with the number of
deaths rising from 311,000 to 400,000 annually.
In 2020 alone, around 341,800 women died from cervical cancer globally, with most of the deaths occurring in low- and lower-middle income countries (LMICs) like the Philippines due to a lack of access to cervical cancer prevention, screening, and treatment, WHO further
noted.
In the Philippines, fewer than one in 10 girls targeted for HPV immunization have received their complete HPV vaccination doses, according to the WHO. By driving concerted action across the pillars of HPV immunization, screening, and treatment, the Philippines could eliminate cervical cancer by 2064.
For Academic Year 2022 to 2023, the health department has secured 1.2 million doses of HPV vaccines, which will benefit 600,000 students nationwide. For Cagayan Valley alone, the DOH has procured 50,000 doses of HPV vaccines, which will immunize 25,000 students in the
region.
In 2017, however, the DOH partnered with DepEd to launch a school-based HPV immunization program that targeted female students aged 9 to 14.
This age group benefits the most from immunization as they are not yet exposed to HPV, which usually results from sexual activity. Securing immunization at this age helps protect them against HPV infection, cervical cancer, and other HPV-related diseases.
In the multistakeholder collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), global healthcare MSD-Philippines, the City Government of
Tuguegarao, and the Provincial Government of Cagayan, Education city superintendent Reynante Caliguiran said the event aligns with DepEd
Memorandum No. 173 or the “Inclusion of the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccination in School-Based Immunization Program (SBIP)”.
The SBIP is an intervention to protect school-aged children against vaccine-preventable diseases. Protecting learners against HPV infection with school-based immunization.
With the return to face-to-face classes nationwide, “it is both timely and prudent to reinstate the school-based HPV vaccination program to safeguard students from HPV infection and reduce their risks for cervical cancer and other diseases caused by HPV,” Caliguiran said