MAKATI CITY — The Makati City Government, through the Makati Health Department (MHD) and in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd)-Makati, recently held a School-Based Influenza Vaccination Advocacy Highlight Activity at Guadalupe Viejo Elementary School. The activity highlighted Makati’s pioneering initiative as the first local government unit in the Philippines to offer free influenza vaccination to all public school students. Under the program, students from public schools across the city are expected to receive free flu vaccines to help protect them from seasonal influenza and limit the spread of the virus in schools and communities. The advocacy event also emphasized the importance of vaccination and encouraged parents, guardians, and school communities to support the program.
Bringing Protection Closer to Students
The school-based vaccination initiative demonstrates the importance of cooperation among the local government, schools, and families in safeguarding children’s health. By administering vaccines within schools, the program makes immunization more convenient and accessible for students while reducing barriers that may prevent them from receiving timely protection. Beyond protecting individual students, widespread vaccination can help minimize flu transmission among classmates, teachers, and family members. The program forms part of Makati’s continuing efforts to strengthen preventive healthcare and protect children from diseases that can be prevented through immunization.
Strengthening Makati’s Public Health Efforts
The advocacy activity brought together representatives from the Makati Health Department, DepEd, Guadalupe Viejo Elementary School, and the local barangay. Among those present were Dr. Bernard Sese, Officer-in-Charge of the Makati Health Department; Ms. Rudith C. Yambao, Principal of Guadalupe Viejo Elementary School; Terense Romayne D. Narido, RN, school nurse; Dr. Connie P. Gepanayao, Medical Officer IV and Head of the School Health and Nutrition Unit of DepEd-NCR; and Barangay Captain Miko Gatchalian of Guadalupe Viejo.
Also participating were Dr. Giselle Mikhaela Enriquez-Briones, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist; Dr. YC A. Pasion, Medical Officer III and Head of the School Health and Nutrition Section of SDO-Makati; and Dra. Ethelrida J. Labayog, Medical Officer IV and NIP Medical Coordinator. As the vaccination campaign moves forward, Makati continues to demonstrate how accessible preventive healthcare and strong partnerships can help create healthier, safer, and more resilient school communities.
