Health experts are pointing to schools as one of the country’s most important platforms for reaching eligible adolescents with HPV vaccination, an intervention widely recognized as the first line of defense against a disease that continues to claim the lives of 12 Filipinas every day.

Panelists share insights on accelerating the Philippines’ journey toward cervical cancer elimination through HPV vaccination, screening, and early intervention. The discussion underscored the critical role of schools, families, healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers in ensuring that more Filipinas are protected from a disease that is largely preventable.

The importance of school-based immunization was a key discussion topic during the recent Together for Health: Towards a Cervical Cancer-Free Philippines forum, where healthcare leaders, researchers, educators, and advocates emphasized the need to strengthen HPV vaccination efforts among young adolescents.

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading cancers affecting Filipinas, with approximately 8,549 new cases and 4,380 deaths annually. Yet experts agree that it is also one of the most preventable cancers through vaccination, screening, and early intervention.

Reaching adolescents where they are

For Dr. Anthony Calibo, Technical Advisor for HPV Vaccination at Jhpiego Philippines, schools remain a critical platform for reaching large numbers of adolescents and helping protect them against HPV, the virus responsible for nearly all cervical cancer cases.

Based on Philippine Statistics Authority estimates cited during the forum, there are approximately 21 million adolescents aged 10 to 18 in the country, with around 20.9 million enrolled learners. Among them are roughly 4.5 million girls in the priority age group for HPV vaccination. These numbers highlight the opportunity schools provide in delivering preventive healthcare at scale.

Dr. Calibo noted that the relaunch of Bakuna Eskwela in 2024 demonstrated what can be achieved through strong collaboration. “The successful relaunch of Bakuna Eskwela in 2024 was possible because DOH and DepEd worked closely together again,” he shared, noting overall increase in vaccine coverage.

Among the vaccines given by the government is the quadrivalent HPV Vaccine, which is provided by the DOH, and helps provide protection against HPV linked to cervical cancer, genital warts and other HPV-related cancers. Public school children aged 9-14 may be eligible to receive this, with signed consent from their parents.

Beyond serving as vaccination venues, schools play an important role in building awareness among students and families. Dr. Calibo emphasized the contribution of teachers and homeroom advisers, who often help explain vaccination programs to parents and learners. To further support these efforts, educational resource materials and self-learning modules are being developed to strengthen awareness about HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention.

Building confidence through trusted voices

Experts at the forum noted that increasing vaccination coverage is not only about availability, but also about ensuring that families have access to accurate information and trusted sources of guidance. Drawing from findings of the UPLIFT Adolescents Project, Ms. Krizelle Cleo Fowler, Senior Program Researcher at the University of the Philippines Manila – National Institutes of Health Health Promotion Program (UP-NIH UPLIFT), explained that decisions surrounding HPV vaccination are shaped by multiple influences.

“We found that the factors affecting vaccination decisions begin at home, extend into the community, and must ultimately be supported by national systems,” Fowler said. Their research found that many parents are not necessarily opposed to vaccination. Rather, they often seek reassurance regarding vaccine safety, possible adverse events, and accessibility. Trusted figures, including healthcare workers, educators, community leaders, and advocates, play an important role in helping families make informed decisions, echoing the sentiments shared by Dr. Calibo.

Fowler emphasized that protecting adolescents requires a coordinated effort across sectors. “Protecting children requires collaboration among parents, advocates, NGOs, schools, healthcare workers, academe and government leaders,” she said.

A critical window for cancer prevention

Experts also reiterated why adolescence remains the ideal time for HPV vaccination. Dr. Vanessa Torres-Ticzon of the Philippine Society of Adolescent Medicine Specialists (PSAMS) explained that HPV vaccination should be viewed as part of routine adolescent healthcare, much like the immunizations children receive during infancy and early childhood. “HPV vaccination should be viewed as part of routine adolescent healthcare, similar to the routine immunizations children receive during infancy and childhood,” she said.

Vaccinating children, both males and females, between ages 9 and 14 provides a stronger immune response and offers protection before potential exposure to the virus. Dr. Torres-Ticzon further emphasized that HPV vaccination should primarily be viewed as a cancer prevention vaccine, noting that prevention is always better than cure because it reduces both the health burden and the financial burden on individuals and families.

Dr. Ricardo Manalastas of the Philippine Infectious Disease Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology
(PIDSOG) discusses the importance of timely HPV vaccination, emphasizing that the greatest protection is
achieved when adolescents are vaccinated before exposure to the virus.

Dr. Ricardo Manalastas from the Philippine Infectious Disease Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology (PIDSOG) likewise emphasized that HPV vaccination works best before infection occurs. He explained that while catch-up vaccination remains beneficial, the greatest protection is achieved when adolescents receive the vaccine before they are exposed to HPV. Early vaccination, he noted, remains one of the most effective ways to reduce future cervical cancer risk.

Dr. Torres-Ticzon also noted that HPV vaccination is recommended for both girls and boys, underscoring the importance of protecting all adolescents against HPV-related diseases. The focus on adolescent vaccination aligns with the World Health Organization’s cervical cancer elimination strategy, which calls for 90 percent of girls to be vaccinated against HPV by age 15. The approach also reflects the World Health Organization’s Health Promoting Schools framework, which recognizes schools as powerful environments for promoting health and empowering young people.

As stakeholders continue working toward this goal, experts agree that schools will remain an indispensable partner in delivering prevention services, strengthening awareness, and helping ensure that more young Filipinas receive protection before disease develops. For patient advocates, HPV vaccination represents more than a public health intervention, it is an opportunity to prevent unnecessary suffering and save lives.

Carmen Auste, Vice President of Cancer Warriors Foundation and President of the Cancer Coalition Philippines, underscored the importance of prevention, noting that the country already has the science, vaccines, and screening tools needed to combat cervical cancer. She stressed that stronger efforts are needed to ensure that these services reach every Filipina, particularly those in underserved and geographically isolated communities.

“We must be the generation that says no Filipina should die from a preventable cancer, regardless of where she lives or how much she earns”, Auste said, urging stakeholders to continue working together to secure a better future for women, their families, and their communities.

For advocates and healthcare leaders alike, every child reached through school-based vaccination represents another step toward a future where cervical cancer is no longer a leading cause of cancer deaths among Filipino women.