The Valencia City government in Bukidnon is urging parents, especially those in indigenous people (IP) communities, to support the Department of Health’s (DOH) school-based immunization program.

At Monday’s launch, Bae Irene Pandian, the city’s IP Mandatory Representative, underscored the importance of vaccines in protecting children from preventable diseases.

“Vaccines prevent hospitalizations, which is crucial for our children,” she said in the dialect.

The program, which targets students from Grades 1 to 7, provides vaccines for measles, rubella, diphtheria, and human papillomavirus (HPV).

Councilor Jerusha Cadigal-Recla, head of the Committee on Health, assured parents that vaccination is necessary to avoid future health complications.

The month-long initiative covers children aged 6 to 13, including those in IP communities. (PNA)