ILOILO City – With fewer than half of its targeted Grade 7 students vaccinated last year, Iloilo City faces renewed pressure to protect thousands of schoolchildren from preventable diseases as health authorities prepare another immunization campaign amid persistent vaccine hesitancy fueled by social media misinformation.
The City Health Office (CHO) is seeking to reverse last year’s disappointing vaccination turnout, when immunization coverage among Grade 7 students reached only 47.65 percent, far below the government’s 95 percent target.
Grade 1 vaccination coverage was similarly inadequate at 64.58 percent, raising concerns over the number of schoolchildren who remain vulnerable to vaccine-preventable illnesses.
CHO records showed that only 3,489 Grade 7 students and 3,308 Grade 1 students received their scheduled vaccinations last year. Another 1,744 Grade 4 female students were vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV).
The figures underscore the challenge confronting local health authorities as they prepare to roll out the School-Based Immunization (SBI) program from October 19 to December 13, 2026.
Mayette Gabanto, Nurse IV and National Immunization Program coordinator of the CHO, identified misinformation circulating on social media and parental fears over vaccine side effects as major obstacles to improving immunization coverage.
“The fear usually comes from the possible side effects of the vaccine and social media posts claiming that a child became sick or was hospitalized after being vaccinated. These are usually the concerns of mothers,” Gabanto said during a press conference on Tuesday.
She said unverified online claims have influenced some parents’ decisions about whether to allow their children to receive vaccines, complicating efforts to achieve the government’s immunization targets.
“Our challenge is that some parents say, ‘This is what we saw on social media.’ That is why we encourage them not to hesitate to visit our district health centers if they have questions,” Gabanto said.
“Our health personnel are the right people to explain how important vaccines are. There is so much false information circulating on social media, and it seems difficult to stop,” she added.
Renewed push for 95% coverage
Despite last year’s shortfall, the CHO is optimistic that the longer vaccination campaign this year will provide more opportunities to reach eligible schoolchildren.
“Last year, we were unable to reach the 95% target. But this year, we are very positive and hopeful that we can increase our coverage because the campaign period is longer,” Gabanto said.
She recalled that several earthquakes during last year’s campaign also disrupted immunization activities, adding to the difficulties already posed by vaccine hesitancy.
The upcoming campaign, implemented by the Department of Health (DOH) in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), will provide vaccines against several potentially serious diseases.
Grade 1 and Grade 7 students will receive measles-rubella (MR) and tetanus-diphtheria (Td) vaccines.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause serious complications, while rubella poses particular risks to unborn babies when contracted during pregnancy. Tetanus can cause severe muscle spasms, while diphtheria is a bacterial infection that can lead to breathing difficulties and other life-threatening complications.
Meanwhile, Grade 4 female students will be offered the HPV vaccine, which protects against infections associated with cervical cancer.
Grade 5 students will also be included in the HPV vaccination campaign to give eligible children who may have missed previous immunization opportunities another chance to receive protection.
Safety concerns addressed
To reassure hesitant parents, Gabanto emphasized that children undergo health assessments before vaccines are administered.
“During the activity, our health staff conduct a health assessment. They check whether the children have a fever or a history of illness. Based on the assessment, they determine whether the child can be vaccinated,” she said.
The CHO will prioritize public schools, although private schools may participate by submitting letters of intent requesting vaccines, subject to availability.
District health personnel will coordinate with participating schools and secure parental consent before administering vaccines.
Health officials are encouraging parents with questions about vaccine safety to consult qualified medical professionals rather than rely on unverified social media posts.
The renewed campaign comes as Iloilo City confronts the challenge of restoring parental confidence in immunization while closing vaccination gaps that leave schoolchildren without the protection offered by recommended vaccines.
For the CHO, achieving higher vaccination coverage will depend not only on making vaccines accessible but also on convincing hesitant parents that protecting their children against preventable diseases should take precedence over unfounded fears circulating online./PN
