The City Government of Makati, in partnership with the Department of Education National Capital Region (DepEd-NCR), continues to strengthen preventive healthcare for children through its school-based influenza vaccination program.
At Guadalupe Viejo Elementary School, health officials administered free flu vaccines to 288 students from Pre-Kinder to Grade 6, helping protect children as the rainy season increases the risk of respiratory illnesses.
“Makati has always put our children’s health first,” said Dr. Bernard Sese, Officer-in-Charge of the Makati Health Department. He noted that school-age children can easily contract and spread influenza, potentially exposing family members who may be senior citizens, high-risk individuals, or living with chronic conditions.
The initiative is part of Makati’s ongoing School-Based Influenza Vaccination Program, which began on August 3 and aims to provide free flu vaccines to 31,537 eligible students across all public schools in the city. Makati is also the first local government unit in the National Capital Region to offer free influenza vaccination to public school students.
According to Dr. Connie Gepanayao, Medical Officer IV and Head of the Health and Nutrition Unit of DepEd-NCR, keeping students healthy can help reduce school absences and learning disruptions. She emphasized that vaccination allows learners to participate more consistently in their classes and activities.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to support the program by providing consent and having eligible children vaccinated. The initiative also included the distribution of Vitamin C and skincare kits for participating students.
Makati’s immunization efforts were recently recognized by the Department of Health Metro Manila Center for Health Development, which named the city among Metro Manila’s Champions of Immunization.
The city will continue its school-based vaccination efforts until all public schools are covered, reinforcing its commitment to accessible preventive care and healthier learning communities.
