A total of 164,774 learners in the Ilocos Region received measles-rubella (MR), tetanus-diphtheria (TD), and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines as of December 21, just before schools went on Christmas break, through the school-based immunization program known as “Bakuna Eskwela”.

Pangasinan reported the highest number of vaccinations, with 72,598 learners in Grades 1 and 7, along with 21,415 Grade 4 learners. It was followed by Ilocos Sur with 19,387 learners in Grades 1 and 7 and 6,844 in Grade 4. La Union recorded 17,535 learners in Grades 1 and 7 and 5,366 in Grade 4, while Ilocos Norte had 16,328 learners in Grades 1 and 7 and 5,301 in Grade 4.

According to Dr. Rheuel Bobis, a medical officer at the Department of Health-Ilocos Region (DOH-1), as of December 15, there were 125,848 learners in Grades 1 and 7 who received the MR vaccine, while 125,838 learners across the same grades had been vaccinated against TD. The target population is 172,538.

For the HPV vaccine, 38,926 Grade 4 learners received their first dose, and 4,517 have completed their second dose, with a target population of 45,200.

Despite the good numbers, Bobis said class suspensions due to recent storms still impacted the turnout for the relaunch of the school-based vaccination program.

The Bakuna Eskwela initiative, implemented by the DOH and the Department of Education (DepEd), was revived beginning October this year after it was suspended in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The DOH assures the public that the vaccines administered to children are safe and effective, having undergone rigorous clinical trials, certifications, and approvals from experts to ensure their safety. (Ahikam Pasion)

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