The Makati City Government has officially rolled out its free school-based influenza vaccination initiative, making it the first local government unit (LGU) in the country to offer free flu shots to public school students.
The initiative was highlighted during an advocacy activity conducted by the Makati Health Department (MHD) in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd)-Makati at Guadalupe Viejo Elementary School on August 26.
Designed to expand access to preventive healthcare, the program aims to protect students from influenza and reduce health-related absences in the classroom setting.
Makati City Mayor Nancy Binay encouraged parents and guardians to actively support the effort by providing parental consent to have their eligible children vaccinated.
Key local health and education officials attended the landmark event to mark the rollout, including MHD Officer-in-Charge Dr. Bernard Sese, Guadalupe Viejo Elementary School Principal Rudith C. Yambao, school nurse Terense Romayne D. Narido and Barangay Guadalupe Viejo Captain Miko Gatchalian.
Also joining the activity were regional and division education officials, including Dr. Connie P. Gepanayao, Head of the School Health and Nutrition Unit of DepEd-NCR; Dr. YC A. Pasion, Head of the School Health and Nutrition Section of SDO-Makati and Dra. Ethelrida J. Labayog, Medical Coordinator for the National Immunization Program.
Pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Giselle Mikhaela Enriquez-Briones was also present to lend technical support to the advocacy push.