Makati Strengthens Child Health With Free School Based Flu Vaccination Program

For many parents, keeping children healthy during the rainy season means more than making sure they bring an umbrella to school.

It also means taking extra steps to protect them from illnesses that can spread quickly in classrooms and communities.

In Makati City, that protection is reaching children right where they spend much of their day.

The City Government of Makati, in partnership with the Department of Education National Capital Region (DepEd NCR), recently brought its school based influenza vaccination program to Guadalupe Viejo Elementary School, where 288 Pre Kinder to Grade 6 students received free flu vaccines.

The initiative comes at an important time as the rainy season can increase the risk of respiratory illnesses. By making vaccination accessible within schools, the city aims to help protect students, reduce flu related absences, and prevent disruptions to their learning.

Protecting Children and Their Families From Influenza

For school age children, influenza can spread easily from one student to another. Beyond affecting children themselves, the virus can also reach family members at home, including older adults and people who may be more vulnerable to serious illness.

“Makati has always put our children’s health first. This school age group can easily catch flu, and since it is contagious, they may pass it to other family members who could be senior citizens, high risk individuals, or those with chronic diseases,” said Dr. Bernard Sese, Officer in Charge of the Makati Health Department.

The vaccination drive is therefore about more than preventing missed classes. It is also part of a wider effort to help protect families and communities from preventable illness.

Thousands of Students Set to Receive Free Flu Vaccines

The vaccination activity at Guadalupe Viejo Elementary School is part of Makati’s continuing School Based Influenza Vaccination Program, which began on August 3 under the leadership of Hon. Nancy Binay.

The program aims to provide free influenza vaccines to 31,537 eligible students across all public schools in Makati City.

By bringing the service directly to schools, the local government is making preventive healthcare more accessible to families while encouraging parents and guardians to take an active role in protecting their children.

Makati is also recognized as the first local government unit in the National Capital Region to offer free influenza vaccination to public school students, highlighting the city’s broader focus on preventive healthcare and immunization.

Healthier Students Can Stay Focused on Learning

A healthy child is better positioned to participate in classroom activities, school programs, and everyday interactions with classmates.

Dr. Connie Gepanayao, Medical Officer IV and Head of the Health and Nutrition Unit of DepEd NCR, emphasized the importance of creating a school environment where children can learn and grow while being protected from illness.

“When students are protected from illnesses like influenza, they are less likely to miss school and can participate more consistently in their classes and activities,” she said.

Her message reflects the connection between health and education. Preventing illness can help children spend more time in the classroom and less time recovering at home.

Parents Encouraged to Support School Vaccination

The Makati Health Department and DepEd NCR are encouraging parents and guardians to support the vaccination initiative by providing consent and having their eligible children vaccinated.

For families, school based vaccination can make preventive care more convenient by bringing an important health service closer to children during their regular school routine.

“By bringing vaccination to our schools, we empower our community to build long term resilience and support proactive care for our children. This initiative by the Makati Government is a powerful reminder that health and education go hand in hand,” Dr. Gepanayao added.

More Than Vaccines for Makati Students

The school activity also went beyond influenza vaccination. Children received Vitamin C and skincare kits as part of the health focused initiative.

These additional efforts complement the city’s broader commitment to promoting wellness among young residents and strengthening preventive healthcare services.

Makati’s immunization work has also received recognition from the Department of Health Metro Manila Center for Health Development, which recently named the city among Metro Manila’s Champions of Immunization.

Makati Continues Its Citywide Vaccination Effort

The school based influenza vaccination campaign will continue across Makati’s public schools until all schools covered by the program have been reached.

With thousands of students included in the initiative, the city’s goal is clear: make timely flu protection more accessible to children while helping families reduce the health and educational disruptions that influenza can cause.

As classrooms fill with students during the rainy season, initiatives like this show how preventive healthcare can become part of everyday school life. For Makati families, protecting children from influenza is not only about keeping them healthy today. It is also about helping them stay in school, keep learning, and remain active in their communities.