IPHO-Lanao launches school-based immunization program

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, August 19 (PIA) – The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) launched on August 17, the free immunization for school children at Malabang National High School in Malabang town, this province.

The school-based immunization dubbed “Bakuna para sa Kabataan, Proteksyon sa Kinabukasan,” aims to give school children additional protection from measles, tetanus and cervical cancer.

Dr. Alinader Minalang, chief of the IPHO Lanao, said the free immunization is a nationwide program to prevent morbidity and mortality of school children due to vaccine-preventable diseases.

We are targeting three groups for the program. The Grades 1 and 7 pupils will be given measles-rubella and tetanus diphtheria vaccines, while 9-year old females will be provided human papilloma vaccine, he said.

According to him, the vaccines for the program are safe to use, effective and approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The school children might experience fever, rashes and swelling or redness. But these are normal and temporary side effects of the vaccines, Minalang stressed.

He also reiterated that only children with consent from parents or guardians are allowed to undergo immunization. (APB/PIA-10)