BANGUED, Abra (PIA) – School children in this capital town get protected from various vaccine-preventable diseases with the launching of the “Bakuna Eskwela” school-based immunization program at the Bangued West Central School on October 8, 2024.
“Our goal is to provide protection to our Grade 1, Grade 7, and Grade 4 pupils against Measles Rubella, Tetanus-Diphtheria, and cervical cancer,” Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Maria Cristina Valera said during the launching program.
She explained that Grades 1 and 7 pupils will be given vaccines for measles rubella and tetanus-diphtheria while female Grade 4 students will receive vaccines for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and cervical cancer.
Abra Provincial Department of Health (PDOHO) National Immunization Program Coordinator Mary June Adriatico informed that the vaccination activity will run from October to November 2024 to be able to give the second dose of HPV vaccine by April to May 2025 before the school year ends.
“The resumption of face-to-face classes increases the risk of contraction and transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases among school children. The school-based immunization has proven to be effective in mitigating this risk,” Adriatico stressed.
Mary Joy Ayco from Cabuloan, Bangued, had his Grade 1 son vaccinated during the kick-off program. She said this will protect the child from diseases.
“Napateg daytoy bakuna para ti anak ko tapno maproteksionan diayay salun-at na. Dagiti padak nga parents tuladenak ta daytoy ket para kadagiti annaktayo tapno maproteksionan da kadagiti sakit,” she expressed.
[The vaccination is important for my child for his own protection. To my fellow parents, have your children immunized to protect them from illnesses.]
Valera thanked the parents and guardians for allowing their children to receive the vaccines.
“Agyamin kami unay ti suportayo ta in-allow yo dagiti ubbing yo nga umay agpabakuna,” she said.
[Thank you so much for your support for allowing your children to be vaccinated.]
She also announced that Abra was recently recognized as one of the top performing provinces in the school-based immunization program.
The activity was led by the Provincial Health Office in partnership with the PDOHO, Bangued Municipal Rural Health Unit, Department of Education, Bangued West Central School, Abra High School, Abra Medical Society, Red Cross, parents, teachers, and other stakeholders.
The school-based immunization program started in 2013 but was stopped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic when face-to-face classes were cancelled. This year, school-based immunization resumed pursuant to DOH Memorandum No. 2024-0250 and Department of Education Memo No. 2024-03-06789.
Abra was recognized as one of the best implementers of the school-based immunization program. (JJPM-PIA CAR, Abra)
