DOH drops anti-HPV vaccination campaign in schools

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) was forced to abandon its vaccination against cervical cancer campaign for Grade 4 students due to the opposition of Education Secretary Armin Luistro, a source said yesterday.

“Bro. Armin said he was OK with other immunization programs but not anti- HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination, not in school. Because of that the DOH had shelved the campaign,” the source said.

The DOH was supposed to implement the program in public elementary schools in 20 poorest provinces next month.

Health Secretary Janette Garin said the program would instead be implemented at the health centers of various local government units. She said only the vaccination program for measles, diptheria, tetanus and pertussis would remain school-based.

Garin cited “misinterpretation and misinformation” that the vaccination program would promote promiscuity. She added that the vaccination is not mandatory.

“The best age to give the vaccine is at an estimated age when they still have no sexual contact. Now, you would see 12 years old giving birth or Grade 5 (students) already in a relationship,” she said.

The Likhaan Center for Women’s Health said it was unfortunate that the program had been shelved.

 “Although the DOH will still push through with the program in the local government units, doing it in school would have been a better option for success,” Mina Tenorio of Likhaan’s Advocacy Team said.

Tenorio also disputed claims that the vaccination program would promote promiscuity.

“At the end of the day, we could only hope for the program’s success… we believe the government must provide poor adolescents access to HPV vaccines in addition to screening, testing and treatment of cervical cancer that would greatly reduce their exposure to risks of the disease and death in later life,”  Tenorio said.

She cited the position of the World Health Organization that HPV vaccines should be included in national immunization programs.

 “Access to HPV vaccines for poor adolescent girls in the Philippines is especially important. Without adequate public access for these vaccines, poor people will once again be exposed to greater risks of disease and death simply because they cannot pay for an intervention currently being enjoyed by well-off families,” she said.

Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the country. It is estimated that 12 Filipino women die of cervical cancer every day.