CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Department of Health (DOH) is urging parents in Northern Mindanao to support the "Bakuna Eskwela" program it is carrying out with the Department of Education. Dr. Vaniza Bagolbol, the DOH 10 (Northern Mindanao) medical officer for the non-communicable disease cluster, noted that immunizing school-age children needs parental consent and counseling before vaccination. "We need to make them understand the importance of vaccines, as some may mix HPV (human papillomavirus) with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)," she said. The Bakuna Eskwela initiative will be launched in chosen public schools in several provinces from October to November after a four-year hiatus due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. The vaccines that will be administered are measles, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, and HPV. Nurse Sherace Brigoli, DOH-10 immunization program coordinator, said the region targets 247,593 children during the coverage period. Dr. Germaine Mariz Labadan, the medical off icer in the family health cluster, also said private schools are welcome to join the program. "They need to coordinate with their respective local government units or rural health units so they will be included," she said. Source: Philippines News Agency