Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) has appealed for collaboration with local government units (LGUs), health workers, and civil society groups to achieve its annual target of vaccinating 95 percent of nearly two million Filipino children against preventable diseases.
According to Philippines News Agency, DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa highlighted the urgency of completing the vaccination schedule for children during a post-SONA discussion. The schedule includes vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella, polio, hepatitis, diphtheria, and more. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the DOH to expedite the immunization program to meet the country’s vaccination targets.
The government procures various vaccines, including pentavalent vaccines, polio vaccines, hepatitis B shots for newborns, and HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines for nine-year-old girls. A catch-up campaign for school-aged children will be launched in September and October, offering measles-rubella, tetanus-diphtheria, and HPV vaccines.
Herbosa announced that President Marcos has approved the nationwide rollout of the HPV vaccine for all nine-year-old girls, moving away from the previous policy that limited the vaccine to the poorest communities. The DOH relies on barangay health workers who form vaccine teams to support the campaign. These teams work through the Purok Kalusugan initiative to locate unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children and ensure they complete their vaccine schedules.
Herbosa shared that a DOH survey revealed high vaccine acceptance among Filipino families, with 85 percent of mothers expressing a desire for their children to be vaccinated. “The demand is there. We often hear noise on social media, but the reality is that most mothers want their children protected,” he said.
The DOH is responsible for procuring and delivering vaccines to LGUs, ensuring their availability at health centers. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to the nearest health center and cooperate with barangay health workers to ensure no child is left behind in the national immunization drive.
