DOH Urges Local Execs to Help Sustain Immunization
MANILA, April 25 — The Department of Health (DOH) has called on local chief executives (LCEs) and international partners to help ensure that immunization is available and sustainable across all administrative levels in the country for the benefit of Filipino mothers and children.
“All LCEs are being called (upon) to support vaccination activities through the provision of funds and social mobilization,” Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial said Tuesday as the department joined the rest of the global community in observing “World Immunization Week” on April 24-30.
This year’s theme is “#VaccinesWork to Protect Individuals and Communities”.
DOH spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag likewise stressed the importance of access to and use of vaccines to guard against preventable illnesses.
“While we have the vaccine and we are making them accessible, awareness should be further increased also,” Tayag said.
Current data on fully-immunized children show a declining trend in immunization coverage in the past three years from 74 percent in 2014, to 71 percent in 2015, and 69 percent in 2016, all below the 95 percent coverage target.
Having low coverage means the public is vulnerable to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
The current administration’s Philippine Health Agenda aims to address the significant decrease in coverage by launching a campaign to improve the demand for routine immunization through the TV and radio public service announcements and audiovisual presentations in health centers.
These efforts would be coupled with the timely procurement of vaccines and other logistics, construction of additional cold rooms, and strengthening health promotion and advocacy activities for immunization.
The World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates “World Immunization Week” during the last week of April to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. According to the WHO, there are some 19.4 million unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children across the world. (LSJ/PNA/Infographics from WHO)
(Source: PNA.gov.ph)