The Department of Education (DepEd) reported on Tuesday that human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates among female Grade 4 students remain low, struggling to recover from hesitancy triggered by past immunization controversies.
According to Dr. Connie Gepanayao, Medical Officer IV and Head of the School Health and Nutrition Unit of DepEd National Capital Region (NCR), parent consent for school-based immunizations has dropped significantly since the 2020 pandemic.
While DepEd-NCR targets an 85% immunization coverage rate, current turnout stands at approximately 30%.
“Nakakalungkot nga na sa NCR, medyo mababa ang aming vaccination rate, siguro dahil sa mga nakalipas na pangyayari, mga hindi magaganda. Katulad ng mga may nagkakasakit pagkatapos mabakunahan,” Gepanayao said in a television interview.
“So medyo mababa ngayon ang aming vaccination rate, kung ikukumpara mo noong bago mag-pandemic… kumbaga, hindi pa nakakabangon ang school-based immunization sa mga nangyari sa mga nakalipas na panahon,” she added.
Safety and Free Distribution
Gepanayao assured parents that the vaccine is safe, thoroughly researched, and distributed free of charge in public schools, noting that the commercial value of the vaccine reaches ₱4,500.
“Itong bakuna sa Human Papillomavirus or HPV vaccine ‘yung una meron siyang apat na strain… It’s ₱4,500. Ngayon, dito sa Department of Education, ibinibigay nang libre. Kaya sa mga magulang na nanonood ngayon, ang bakuna laban sa [HPV] ay ligtas at epektibo,” Gepanayao stated.
“’Wag po kayong matakot dahil ito ay nag-underwent sa masusing pag-aaral ng ating mga siyentipiko at ang nalalaman ko lang na kaniyang side effect ay pain, yung kirot, other than that wala na,” she continued, adding that students undergo a 30-minute monitoring period following vaccination.
Future Plans and Health Impact
To address the decline, DepEd plans to intensify information campaigns to educate parents on the benefits of the vaccine. The agency also announced that the immunization program will expand to include female Grade 5 students in the upcoming school year.
The Department of Health previously set a target to immunize two million students against HPV, a primary driver of cervical cancer.
According to World Health Organization data, cervical cancer is among the top five most common cancers in the Philippines, with the DOH Epidemiology Bureau recording 7,829 cases as of 2022.