With more than 11,000 measles cases in the country, the Department of Education will study a new policy of ‘No Vaccination, No Enrolment’. Since the outbreak, there have been a recorded number of 189 deaths related to measles and its complications.
Since children are the ones that are at most risk, DepEd knows that the outbreak can keep spreading while the kids are in school. Education Secretary Leonor Briones recently met with Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to figure out the immediate course of action and has suggested making vaccination mandatory to qualify for enrollment.
Both departments are still to consider if there are any effects for existing laws and added, “We have to look at the human rights aspect and what the Constitution says”. Both the DepEd and DOH are also working on implementing school-based immunization programs.
Aside from meeting with the DOH, DepEd has also coordinated with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to help with the outbreak response, especially with the recent announcement for a State of Emergency in Cavite due to the rising number of measles cases in the area.
