MANILA, Philippines -- Schools should be the country's most important platforms for vaccination, screening, and early intervention against human papillomavirus or HPV, serving as the "first line of defense" against cervical cancer, health experts said.
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading cancers affecting Filipino women, with 8,549 new cases and 4,380 deaths annually, although it is one of the most preventable cancers through vaccination, screening, and early intervention.
During the "Together for Health: Towards a Cervical Cancer-Free Philippines" forum, Dr. Anthony Calibo, technical advisor for HPV vaccination at the Jhpiego (Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics) Philippines, said schools remain a critical platform for reaching large numbers of adolescents and helping protect them against HPV, the virus responsible for nearly all cervical cancer cases.
Based on Philippine Statistics Authority estimates cited during the forum, there are 21 million adolescents aged 10 to 18 in the country, with around 20.9 million enrolled learners. Of these, 4.5 million girls are in the priority age group for HPV vaccination.
Calibo said that the relaunch of Bakuna Eskwela in 2024 demonstrated what can be achieved through strong collaboration.
"The successful relaunch of Bakuna Eskwela in 2024 was possible because DOH (Department of Health) and DepEd (Department of Education) worked closely together again," Calibo said.
Among the vaccines given by the government was the quadrivalent HPV vaccine, which provides protection against cervical cancer, genital warts and other HPV-related cancers.
Calibo also cited the contribution of teachers and homeroom advisers, who often help explain vaccination programs to parents and learners.
Meanwhile, Krizelle Cleo Fowler, senior program researcher at the University of the Philippines Manila – National Institutes of Health Health Promotion Program, said in their Uplift Adolescents study that decisions affecting HPV vaccination "begin at home, extend into the community, and must ultimately be supported by national systems,"
According to their research, many parents are not necessarily opposed to vaccination. However, they often seek reassurance regarding vaccine safety, possible adverse events, and accessibility.
"Protecting children requires collaboration among parents, advocates, NGOs, schools, healthcare workers, academe and government leaders," Fowler said.
Dr. Vanessa Torres-Ticzon of the Philippine Society of Adolescent Medicine Specialists said that HPV vaccination should be viewed as part of routine adolescent healthcare, much like the immunizations children receive during infancy and early childhood.
