Miriam College and The Medical City have partnered to roll out a school-based vaccination drive aimed at protecting students, faculty, and families against cervical cancer and other preventable diseases, in a push to address low HPV immunization rates in the Philippines.
The event, held at the Quezon City campus, marked the college’s first comprehensive vaccination program and The Medical City’s first collaboration of this kind with a private school. The initiative offered doses of HPV, influenza, and pneumonia vaccines to about 300 recipients, including students, school staff, parents, and senior citizens.
The move follows a summit hosted by Miriam College in March that urged private schools to play a larger role in HPV awareness and prevention. HPV, or Human Papilloma Virus, is the leading cause of cervical cancer, which kills an estimated 12 Filipino women each day, according to the World Health Organization. Only 33 percent of eligible girls in the Philippines complete the vaccine series, WHO data shows.
“Because we’re a girls’ school, HPV vaccination is especially important,” said Sofia Soledad De Guzman, principal of Miriam College High School. “This shows we’re serious about our mission to prioritize health alongside education.”
The vaccines were administered by The Medical City, which used the nonavalent HPV vaccine that protects against nine cancer-causing strains. The program supports WHO’s 2030 target of fully vaccinating 90 percent of girls against HPV by age 15.
Dr. Christopher Napoleon Delos Reyes, The Medical City’s Group Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer, said the initiative promotes long-term preventive healthcare.
“By working with schools like Miriam College, we’re able to make vaccination more accessible and encourage healthy habits among the next generation,” Delos Reyes said.
Parents and students said the drive eliminated logistical hurdles, allowing easier access to essential vaccines.
“As a mom of three girls, I had concerns at first, but now I’m convinced the HPV vaccine is safe,” said Macky Fernando, whose daughter Maia received her first dose during the event. “Having it at school made it so convenient.”
The program was supported by healthcare company MSD in the Philippines.
Miriam College Grade School principal Kristine Lesaca-Saludez said the school’s efforts aim to impact not only students but the wider community.
“We believe in the power of education to transform entire communities. A healthy village raises a healthy child,” she said.