Supported by the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Health (DoH) recognizes the integral role of mothers in helping their daughters understand the importance of early protection from Human Papillomavirus (HPV) — the leading cause of cervical cancer.
DoH’s School-Based Immunization Program (SBIP) recently reached Lakeshore Hall in Taguig City, where mothers accompanied their young daughters aged nine to 13 years old in receiving their first dose of quadrivalent HPV vaccine administered by the government for free as part of its expanded program on immunization.
The HPV vaccination program is targeted to make protection against HPV-related diseases such as cervical cancer more accessible to Filipino women especially for those who cannot afford the cost of immunization.
OB-Gyn and Infectious Disease specialist Jennifer Co noted that one dose of the vaccine ranges between P3,000 and 4,000. Those aged nine to 13 years old would need two doses of HPV vaccine. Meanwhile, adult females up to 45 years old would follow the three dose regimen schedule.
Under the HPV SBIP, more parents learn the value of having their daughters vaccinated at a young age through awareness and education seminars that are held before the schools ask for their consent. The quadrivalent HPV vaccine is most recommended to be administered to girls nine to 13 years old because they still have optimum immune resistance to the infection.
What is HPV?
HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that causes more than 90 percent of cervical cancer cases. It can also lead to genital warts, and other malignancies such as anal and oropharynx cancer in both men and women, vaginal and vulvar cancer in women, and penile cancer in men.
In the rise of cervical cancer incidence, with an estimate of 6,000 new cases reported every year in the Philippines, the value of HPV vaccination cannot be underestimated and many more mothers have been joining the fight for an HPV-free future.
“Nakatanggap ako ng three doses ng HPV vaccine. Dahil ako rin po ay isang nanay, naisip ko na kailangan din ng anak kong babae ng proteksyon. Kaya yung mga bata dito, masuwerte kayo kasi ibinibigay po ito ng DoH at pamahalaang lungsod ng Taguig nang libre,” said Annette Cristobal, principal of CP Sta. Teresa Elementary School.
Mothers who accompanied their daughters at the activity equally believed in the benefits of HPV immunization and encouraged other mothers to get their daughters vaccinated under the government vaccination program.
“Bilang ina ng isa sa mga nabiyayaan ng HPV vaccine, inaanyayahan ko po ang ibang mga magulang na pabakunahan ang kanilang mga anak upang matulungan silang mabigyan ng sapat na proteksyon at maagapan ang pagkakaroon ng HPV infection. Naniniwala po ako na prevention is better than cure,” said Geraldine Obuyes, mother of Crystal Obuyes who will be receiving her second dose of HPV vaccine.
“Paglaki namin, may tulong proteksyon na po kami sa HPV at cervical cancer. Dapat huwag matakot magpabakuna kasi na-test na ito at may research sila nang ilang dekada na,” said Arielle Canta, one of the recipients of SBIP.
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