Over 1.1 Million First Graders Vaccinated Against Measles and Rubella in School Program

In a significant public health initiative, the Department of Health (DOH) announced that 1,110,698 first-grade students have received vaccinations against measles and rubella as part of the School-Based Immunization Program (SBIP). The announcement was made during a media forum by Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, who highlighted that this number constitutes 67.63% of the targeted first graders. The program, which also targets seventh graders, saw 939,062 students vaccinated, representing 59.92% of the goal for that grade level. Additionally, the initiative included vaccinations against tetanus and diphtheria, with 1,106,389 first graders and 937,056 seventh graders receiving these shots, achieving coverage rates of 67.37% and 59.75% respectively. The Cordillera Administrative Region led in vaccination rates for both measles-rubella and tetanus-diphtheria among first graders, with Caraga and Northern Mindanao following closely. For seventh graders, Northern Mindanao topped the list, followed by the Cordillera and Caraga regions. The program also extended to vaccinating 505,010 fourth-grade girls against human papillomavirus, with Caraga, Ilocos, and Northern Mindanao showing the highest coverage. Despite these efforts, Secretary Herbosa acknowledged challenges, including a dip in public trust following social media attacks on mRNA vaccines, which also affected traditional vaccines. He emphasized the need to rebuild confidence in vaccinations, especially after recent outbreaks of measles and pertussis, and stressed the importance of engaging more directly with parents to enhance the program’s effectiveness. The SBIP, launched on October 7, aims to protect over 3.8 million students across various grade levels from vaccine-preventable diseases.