The Ministry of Public Health is implementing a nationwide vaccination program, with plans to immunize half a million children, ages 5 to 10, against the measles. Another 58,261 students will receive the “pentavalente” vaccine that protects against the five major childhood infectious diseases, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B (HIB). The campaign will last one month, beginning in October, as reported in Diario Libre. The Ministry of Public Health is undertaking the vaccination program to reduce the estimated 15-20% of Dominican school children whose parents have not followed the prescribed course of immunizations.