JUST recently, the Department of Health (DOH) proposed to Department of Education (DepEd) on the proposal of a policy “no vaccination, no enrolment”. Below is the official statement of DepEd on the proposed “no vaccination, no enrollment” policy:

Pasig City, February 22, 2019 – In view of the rising number of measles cases in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) is studying the proposal of the Department of Health (DOH) to implement a “no vaccination, no enrollment” policy in public schools.

As much as there is a growing need to reinvigorate the campaign for the importance of vaccination, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones emphasizes that the proposed policy must take into consideration the human rights of learners, especially their access to quality basic education.

While DepEd is looking into different ways to regain the confidence of parents in immunization, the agency has made commitments with DOH in ensuring that the learners are protected. Among these are to: Develop consent form and evaluation form, which will categorize learners as “vaccinated,” “doubtful,” and “not vaccinated”, verify school records and vaccination cards, gather and share data on the number of learners affected with measles, coordinate with health center staff on learners who are absent and whose parents did not give consent during vaccination, follow up on learners who did not receive vaccination and those who opted to be inoculated by private practitioner.

Likewise, it was also considered to review and explore the strengthening of Executive Order No. 663, series 2007 (Implementing the National Commitment for “Bakuna ang Una sa Sanggol at Ina,” Attaining World Health Organization’s Goals to Eliminate Measles and Neonatal Tetanus, Eradicate Polio, Control Hepatitis B and Other Vaccine-Preventable Diseases) and of Executive Order No. 82, series 2012 (Operationalizing the Practical Guide for National Crisis Managers and the National Crisis Management Core Manual; Establishing National and Local Crisis Management Organizations; and Providing Funds Therefore).

Learners, parents, teaching and non-academic personnel, and stakeholders may rest assured that the Department is working closely with DOH in monitoring measles cases and in strengthening efforts to combat the disease.

This Corner hopes that concrete measures will be agreed upon so that the welfare of the children will really be protected without hampering their rights to be educated.

If there is a will, there is a way.