ANTIQUE – The school-based immunization (SBI) for the measles-rubella (MR), tetanus diptheria (Td), and human papillomavirus (HPV) targets 27,281 learners in this province.
“The school-based immunization resumed after the pandemic to provide the learners with protection from measles, pertussis, and other diseases,” said Department of Health (DOH) Antique provincial head Dr. Rommel Garganera during a press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Antique Provincial Health Office National Immunization Program Coordinator Tesie Mae Bañes said the 27,281 learners are composed of 9,966 learners in Grade 1 and 11,358 learners in Grade 7 targeted for MR and TD, and 5,957 female learners in Grade 4 for the HPV.
“We were not able to have school-based immunization since 2019 because the learners did not have face-to-face classes,” she said.
She added they will have another month-long backup or immunization in November to reach out to those who were not vaccinated in schools.
Teams from Rural Health Units will reach out to the learners in schools in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
The monthlong SBI kicked off Wednesday at the Malandog Elementary School in San Jose de Buenavista town.
PHO Medical Specialist II Dr. Cara Uy urged parents to provide their consent forms so their children could be immunized.
“We urge parents to support the school-based immunization for the sake of their children,” Uy said. (PNA)
