Jaehwa Bernardo

The Department of Health and Department of Education kicks off the revived Bakuna Eskwela program at the Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School in Manila on October 7, 2024. The program aims to immunize school-aged children against vaccine-preventable diseases to achieve healthy learning institutions. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Bakuna Eskwela Kickoff

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177210907454820241007-bakuna-eskwela-manila-MD-5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>The Department of Health and Department of Education kicks off the revived Bakuna Eskwela program at the Dr. Alejandro Albert Elementary School in Manila on October 7, 2024. The program aims to immunize school-aged children against vaccine-preventable diseases to achieve healthy learning institutions. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- Health Undersecretary Albert Domingo clarified his department was not recommending penalties for failure to immunize children.Domingo made the clarification following another Department of Health (DOH) official’s <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/2/25/minor-penalties-recommended-vs-parents-who-refuse-to-protect-kids-from-vaccine-preventable-diseases-1928">statement </a>at a hearing at the House of Representatives.Citing human rights, Domingo said education initiatives were the more appropriate method in terms of encouraging immunization.“The Secretary has clarified that the Department is not recommending the addition of any penalties for the failure to have children immunized. The correct way is to improve information and education initiatives, as there are human rights involved,” Domingo told ABS-CBN News.Health Undersecretary Emmie Liza Chiong earlier recommended that the House Committee on Health consider creating minor penalties for parents who “consciously neglect to give children protection from vaccine-preventable diseases.”Chiong made the recommendation during the House panel’s hearing on Wednesday tackling bills on a mandatory immunization program, comprehensive maternal health care including immunization, and institutionalizing the implementation of the Immunization Agenda 2030, among others.&quot;Consider including a provision of minor penalties for parents or caregivers who, after due notice, consciously neglect their duty to provide their children utmost protection from vaccine-preventable diseases,&quot; Chiong said while enumerating recommendations from the department.Health Secretary Ted Herbosa later posted a video saying they will not impose any penalties over the choice to not immunize one’s children.“Bilang isang doktor po, alam namin may ibang mga bata may mga contraindication sa pagbibigay ng bakuna, at in some cases, hindi talaga puwedeng ibigay ‘yung bakuna sa kanila,” Herbosa said in a video posted on Thursday.During the hearing, Chiong said the country also remained at high risk for vaccine-preventable diseases, with the coverage of fully immunized children ranging from 60 to 70 percent from 2018 to 2022.Chiong also recommended including provisions to streamline procurement of vaccines through the issuance of special permits.While listing down recommendations, Chiong said, “To ensure the steady availability of vaccines by including provisions to streamline its procurement process through issuance of special permits or procedures as deemed legally acceptable.”According to DOH Immunization Program Manager Carmina Vera, the percentage of fully immunized children in the country in 2025 was at 64.27 percent, or around 1.5 million children, which she said is “notably well below” the national target of 95 percent. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/1/12/experts-closely-monitoring-infectious-diseases-parents-urged-to-have-their-children-vaccinated-1821">Experts closely monitoring infectious diseases; parents urged to have their children vaccinated </a></div>Meanwhile, Kalinga Lone District Representative Caroline Agyao flagged supposed issues on vaccine wastage, adding some vaccines are left to expire.Agyao added there is a need for those from the DOH Central Office to look into the real situation concerning immunization among communities.“Sana po ‘yung expiry din tingnan niyo. Talagang nakikita ho down the ground ang katotohanan po one month– parang sasabihin niyo, ‘Hindi. Ibigay niyo na, iturok niyo na ‘yan kasi mag-e-expire na the next week.’... Sa inyo sa taas, nakikita niyo– you just procure it. And then ‘pag nandoon na sa baba, talagang no choice ang mga ano. Kaya lang may mga na ayaw talaga ibibigay. So that’s a wastage. Sayang ang pera natin,” Agyao said.“Kailangan ho na makita niyo rin ‘yung paano makarating doon sa pinakaliblib papuntang Batanes,” Agyao added.The House bills on immunization programs were approved by the committee pending consolidation.<div>AGGRESSIVE SCREENING</div>4K party-list Representative Iris Montes mentioned there may be a need for more aggressive screening, testing, and contact tracing for tuberculosis.According to the DOH’s Dr. Charisse Malbacias, their data on notifications or identified cases of tuberculosis back in 2024 was only at around 73 percent, or over 500,000, while the World Health Organization’s (WHO) estimate was at around 724,000.“Treatment coverage means how many we were able to find and treat compared to their estimates.. In 2024, we are at around 73 percent of the notifications in all forms of TB…So the estimate po kasi of WHO for 2024 is at around 724,000,” Malbacias said.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/11/13/tuberculosis-killed-1-23-million-last-year-who-1053">Tuberculosis killed 1.23 million last year: WHO </a></div>The DOH added that they need approximately P22 billion in 2026 for their strategic plan to eliminate tuberculosis.However, only P4.2 billion was allocated under the national budget to fight tuberculosis.The Philippine Tuberculosis Society’s Dr. Camilo Roa Jr. acknowledged how there may be high funding requirements for the proposed laws, but he also cited a publication saying that for every dollar invested, you get at least four dollars back in enhancing efforts against tuberculosis.Roa also appealed to lawmakers to give the DOH the budget needed for this. House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Representative Mikaela Suansing said she is very supportive of increasing funding for programs to address tuberculosis and requested that the DOH prioritize this when they submit their proposed budget.House bills seeking to strengthen the national program for the elimination of tuberculosis for consolidation as a substitute bill were approved by the House panel.

Health Undersecretary Albert Domingo clarified his department was not recommending penalties for failure to immunize children.

Health Undersecretary Albert Domingo clarified his department was not recommending penalties for failure to immunize children.

DOH not recommending penalties for failing to immunize children, says exec

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DOH not recommending penalties for failing to immunize children, says exec

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 26, 2026 09:02 PM PHT

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