Caraga: Seven out of 10 children aged 12 to 23 months in the Caraga Region are fully vaccinated with basic antigens, marking an improvement from the 64.4 percent recorded in 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-13) reported during a dissemination forum on the 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) on Tuesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the survey also revealed a decline in vaccination coverage for older toddlers, with only 45.7 percent of children aged 24 to 35 months receiving full vaccination in 2025, compared to the slightly higher 46.0 percent recorded in 2022. Full vaccination includes one dose of BCG (tuberculosis vaccine), a birth dose of Hepatitis B vaccine, three doses of DPT-containing vaccine, three doses of Oral Polio Vaccine, two doses of Inactivated Polio Vaccine, three doses of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine, and two doses of MMR vaccine.
Among children aged 12 to 23 months, 92.2 percent received the BCG vaccine, 83.4 percent received the DPT-containing vaccine, 78.7 percent received the polio vaccine, and 93.1 percent received the MMR vaccine. PSA-13 Regional Director Guillermo Lipio Jr. highlighted the significance of the NDHS as a vital source of information on population, health, nutrition, fertility, and maternal and child health in the country. "For the Caraga Region, the survey result provides valuable insights into the current demographic and health conditions of our people," Lipio stated in his opening message.
In terms of childhood mortality, Caraga has seen significant long-term improvements. Under-five mortality dropped from 77 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1993 to 22 in 2025. Infant mortality decreased from 49 in 1993 to 19 in 2025, while neonatal mortality fell from 17 in 1993 to 10 in 2025. However, the 2025 figures were slightly higher than the 2022 records for under-five mortality (14 in 2022, 22 in 2025) and infant mortality (7 in 2022, 19 in 2025), although still lower than 2017 levels.
Representatives from government agencies attended the NDHS dissemination forum on Tuesday, underscoring the importance of the survey's findings for public health planning and intervention strategies in the region.
