DOH Gives Immunization Vaccines to Grades 1 & 7 Public School Students

The Department of Health (DOH-7) to give immunization vaccines worth P10,000 to Grades 1 and 7 students in public schools this month.

DOH7 medical officer Dr. Sharon Laurel said all grades 1 & 7 students in all public schools nationwide will be given four immunizations in the observance of Mass Immunization Program the whole of August.

She said there are 172,700 grade 1 pupils in Central Visayas and 100,704 grades 7 or first year high school students.

The students will be given shots of measles, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria.

According to Laurel, each shot ranges from P800 to P1,500 when availed from private clinics and hospitals.

“What we just need is for the parents to give their consent for the conduct of the immunization,” Laurel said.

She said there are some parents who do not allow their children possibly fearing of any discomfort or side effects.  However, Laurel said, there are only normal discomforts felt by the immunized.

The private schools who would want their grades 1 and 7 to be immunized may submit a letter of intent to DOH7 or their local health department.

Meanwhile DOH is also conducting tuberculosis screening on August 22 at San Roque, Talisay City.  This time it will be among school children for early detection of the said illness. (mbcn/fcc/PIA7-Cebu)