Over 26,000 Ilocos learners get measles-rubella, anti-tetanus vax

VACCINATION. A Department of Health personnel administers a vaccine to a grade school learner in Ilocos Norte in this undated photo. As of Oct. 13, 2024, about 26,000 learners in the Ilocos Region have received the measles-rubella and tetanus-diphtheria vaccines as part of the resumption of the school-based immunization program dubbed “Bakuna Eskwela” of the Department of Health and the Department of Education. (Photo courtesy of Healthy Region 1 FB)

MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – About 16 percent of the 165,000 Grades 1 and 7 learners in the Ilocos Region targeted for the school-based immunization program Bakuna Eskwela have received measles-rubella (MR) and tetanus-diphtheria (TD) vaccines.

Citing data as of Oct. 13, Department of Education (DepEd) 1 Assistant Director Rhoda Razon on Tuesday said about 26,000 learners were vaccinated after the program’s relaunch on Oct. 7.

Of the total, the province of Pangasinan has given the MR vaccines to 5,738 students and the TD vaccines to 5,730; in La Union, 2,859 students were immunized with MR and 2,855 with TD; Ilocos Norte, 2,319 with MR and 2,319 with TD; and in Ilocos Sur, 2,387 with MR and 2,388 with TD.

Razon said the numbers show parents’ support for the resumption of the vaccination program, which aims to protect students against vaccine-preventable diseases.

During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on Tuesday, DepEd-1 Director Tolentino Aquino said they have conducted information campaigns on vaccine-preventable diseases to reduce vaccine hesitancy among parents and students.

“We have also conducted meetings with parents to inform them of the importance of their children getting vaccinated and to secure their consent for their child’s immunization,” he added.

Department of Health (DOH) 1 Director Paula Paz Sydiongco has assured the public of adequate supplies for the immunization program.

“We will be prioritizing the vaccination of students from the public schools and then the students in the private schools to protect them against vaccine-preventable diseases,” her statement read.

Bakuna Eskuwela is being implemented by the DepEd along with the DOH, and will run until November.

It was suspended in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The vaccines to be given to your children are safe and effective. It underwent clinical trials, certifications, and authorizations of the experts to ensure safety. It is also for free in public schools,” the DOH said.