Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) collaborate in School Based Immunization Program implementation during the SBI month in August.

All grade I pupils will be vaccinated with Measles Containing Vaccine (MCV) and Tetanus Diptheria (TD) while Grade-VII students will receive Measles Rubella (MR) and TD vaccines which are highly recommended by DOH.

The orientation of these three agencies was conducted by clusters (cities and provinces) not only to increase awareness on the benefits of vaccination but to gather support in the grass roots level to achieve 95 percent accomplishment.

Vaccines are provided to infants (0-12 months) as protection against contagious diseases such as polio, measles, German measles, diphtheria and tetanus. However, over time, this protection will decline and booster doses to older children, one needed to ensure that this protection is maintained at high levels. Thus, morbidity or mortality of these children will be prevented.

SBI as a program, is a laudable one, a strategy to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) to ensure lives and well-being of children at all ages.  This is the ultimate goal of this department. To be able to have healthy children in the classrooms that are protected from any disease or illness.

“This program is yet neophyte in terms of implementation in the department.  However, to increase the responsiveness of this activity to the grassroots, there is a need to fortify the consciousness of the stakeholders in order to create awareness of the recipients of this package.” Borres stated.