The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Health (DOH) are set to launch the “Bakuna Eskwela” campaign on October 7, 2024. The program, aimed at protecting school-aged children from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), marks the return of school-based immunization programs after the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bakuna Eskwela will officially kick off at the Dr. A. Albert Elementary School in Sampaloc Manila where key officials from DepEd and DOH, including Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa and Education Secretary Sonny Angara are expected to attend. Other officials expected in the opening include DOH Public Health Services Team Undersecretary Glen Matthew Baggao and DOH Management Support Cluster Undersecretary Ma. Carolina Taiño. The campaign is supported by global organizations such as UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and Jhpiego Philippines.
Balik Eskwela highlights the government’s efforts to ensure the well-being of students and to prevent outbreaks of VPDs such as measles, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
The importance of school-based immunization
Institutionalized in 2015, school-based immunization (SBI) generally means that vaccines are administered to students within school facilities. It was suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic when immunization efforts shifted to a community-based approach. Schools have gradually reopened since 2022, making it possible for the DOH to bring back this vital program in partnership with the DepEd.
With Bakuna Eskwela, children in the Grade 1 and Grade 7 levels will receive vaccines for measles, rubella, and tetanus-diphtheria (MR-Td). Moreover, Grade 4 female students in select provinces will also receive the HPV vaccine, which is crucial in preventing cervical cancer.
The importance of vaccines
Although COVID-19 remains a concern, the DOH underscores that school-aged children are also at high risk for other VPDs, emphasizing, “Thus, there is a need to provide an opportunity for vaccinating them through the continuation of SBI in school settings.”
Parents are encouraged to support the program and ensure that their children receive and are updated with the recommended vaccines. Benefits of having school-aged children vaccinated include:
Prevent disease outbreaks: Vaccines are proven to help control the spread of highly contagious diseases, reducing the chances of outbreaks in schools.
Protect vulnerable populations: Vaccinations can help protect individuals in the community with compromised immune systems or those who cannot receive vaccines due to medical reasons.
Reduce school absenteeism: Immunized children are less likely to get sick, ensuring fewer missed school days.
Long-term health benefits: Some vaccines, such as the HPV vaccine, protect children from diseases that could affect them later in life, such as cervical cancer.
Read here to learn why the flu vaccine is critical for kids and pregnant women.
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