ILAGAN CITY, Isabela – Around 150 female Grade IV pupils from the Ilagan East Integrated SPED Center and Alinguigan 2nd Elementary School have been vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) during the launching of the school-based vaccination program dubbed “𝗦𝗮 𝗔𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗸𝗶, 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗣𝗩” at the Ilagan Community Center here. These pupils were inoculated with consent from their parents and guardians. The program is a collaboration among the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Education (DepEd), City of Ilagan, and Provincial Government of Isabela (PGI). Dr. Marichu Manlongat of the Integrated Provincial Health Office-Isabela  said that HPV vaccine another life-saving vaccine. "HPV vaccine is now available, and with the partnership with DepEd and the city government, a school-based health services starting from key cities of Ilagan and Cauayan is now launched to end vaccine preventable diseases such as HPV," she said. An obstetrician-gynecologist discussed the HPV infection and its related diseases and vaccine during the launching, adding that HPV is the common cause of almost all forms of cervical cancer among women. The Isabela Provincial Information Office said that more than 4,000 female Grade IV pupils aged nine to 14-years-old are enrolled in the program to protect them against HPV infection, cervical cancer, and other HPV-related diseases.