A Conversation Starts Before the Vaccine
OZAMIZ CITY - The DepEd Ozamiz issuance specifically calls for an IEC campaign aimed at parents and guardians regarding the 2026 School-Based Immunization program. That focus is significant because information is part of preparing families for school-based health activities, particularly when parents need to understand what is being offered before making decisions for their children. The Ozamiz announcement does not provide a completed vaccination tally or claim that all targeted learners have already been vaccinated, so those conclusions would go beyond the available evidence. For now, the confirmed development is the planned communication effort, giving parents a more direct place in the conversation surrounding school-based immunization.
Making School Health Easier to Understand
School-Based Immunization is a joint public-health effort involving the Department of Health and Department of Education, with vaccination programs designed to protect school-aged children against vaccine-preventable diseases. National guidance includes vaccines such as measles-rubella, tetanus-diphtheria, and human papillomavirus for specified learner groups, with implementation supported by information and consent processes for parents or guardians. A September 2026 DOH regional example also shows how health and education offices have been working together on SBI planning, communication strategies, reporting, and implementation. Ozamiz’s parent-focused IEC campaign fits into that broader approach by giving families information before school-based health activities take place.
Parents Have a Place in the Process
The most useful part of an information campaign is that it gives families an opportunity to become familiar with a program before it reaches the school setting. In Ozamiz, the September 15 memorandum places parents and guardians directly within the communication process for SBI 2026, rather than treating immunization as something happening entirely behind school gates. The available DepEd notice does not yet state the campaign’s full schedule, number of participating parents, or vaccination coverage, so this article does not invent those details. What is already clear is the direction: Ozamiz is preparing to communicate with families about school-based immunization, making parent awareness part of the program’s preparation.
