School-based immunization launched

CEBU, Philippines - In line with the National Immunization Month for Adolescents, the Department of Health (DOH) Region 7, in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepED), launched the first free school-based adolescent immunization held in Abellana National School Gym yesterday.

The prioritized school-based adolescent immunization is for all first year to fourth year (Grade seven to ten) high school students in public schools. Each student will be injected with two vaccines on each arm, particularly Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) and Tetanus-Diphteria (TD).

For the whole month of August, a total of 341,371 targeted number of students will be vaccinated by the DOH in selected areas specifically in Cebu City, Lapu-lapu, Mandaue, and the rest of the province of Cebu and Bohol.

Dr. Jeanette Pauline Arellano, DOH Medical Officer IV, said that immunization is important not only for infants but also for adolescents.

“Importante ang paghatag og adolescent immunization because it will protect from various infections and diseases,” she said. The MMR vaccine will protect people from contracting measles, mumps, or rubella throughout their lives according.

Letters of consent are sent to parents for their child to be immunized but it is not mandatory. MMR vaccines shall not be given to pregnant female eligible targets. The DOH and DepEd will conduct screening for all female students before immunization.

Remaining provinces in Central Visayas, namely Negros Oriental and Siquijor, were not included in the targeted population.

“Budget is intended based sa gi-prioritize nga province gikan sa central office. Naay cases nga measles sa Bohol ug Cebu, but after the successful vaccination for all the targeted population, we will proceed to other provinces,” said DOH – Expanded Program in Immunization Nurse Coordinator Ashtriedley Cabinatan.

The National Epidemiology Center (NEC) survey from 2010 to 2011 revealed that there are 1,157 to 1,562 confirmed cases of measles and 24 to 31 probable diphtheria cases among adolescents.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who was guest speaker of the program, encouraged the students of ANS to be healthy. “It has been said that health is wealth. Eat and take care of your body so that you will have a healthy mind and body, and if you have healthy mind and body you will become a better citizen because you will be able to learn so much.”

Jane Anne Alcao, a grade seven student of ANS who availed the free vaccination said that she is happy when she was vaccinated. “Need kaayo ni namo aron layo mi sa mga sakit. Wala raman ko masakitan pag-inject, (We need this to stay healthy. The injection didn’t hurt.)” she said.

On the other hand, Edrian Pacatang, a fourth year high school student of ANS who did not yet avail the vaccination, said in an interview with The Freeman that he is going to avail the free immunization.

“Since opportunity ni namo nga magpa-immunize, mas ok kay sure man nga naay proteksyon ang among lawas. Unya kami ang giuna, kami ang gitan-aw nila nga pag-asa sa atong country, (It’s an opportunity to protect our bodies. They see us as the hope of our nation that’s why they immunized us first.)” he said.  (FREEMAN)