As children return to school during the rainy season and amid a dengue outbreak in Iloilo, health experts, and representatives from the regional and provincial health office gathered at the Regional Health Connect Media Forum to stress the urgent need for timely childhood immunization. Experts also highlighted the increased risk of water-borne, influenza-like illnesses, leptospirosis, and dengue or “W.I.L.D.” diseases which are more prevalent during the rainy season and pose significant threats to children in school settings.
The Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOH CHD) Western Visayas reports that while Iloilo’s immunization coverage is currently at 60-70%, there is a great opportunity to enhance these efforts and reach the 95% target. As of July 2024, Iloilo province achieved 37.99% coverage, and Iloilo City reached 38.85%, underscoring the need for further improvement. This presents a vital chance to prioritize and strengthen childhood immunization against preventable diseases, ensuring a healthier future for our communities.
In response to this, Dr. Jose Atienza, Immunization Program Coordinator for DOH CHD Western Visayas, outlined intensified efforts to boost vaccine coverage to 95% in Iloilo. These efforts include localized policy support, information campaigns, additional personnel, ‘bakuna champions,’ and logistical, financial, and transportation support.
To further address the immunization gap, Dr. Atienza announced the resumption of a school-based immunization program this October, in collaboration with LGUs and DepEd, providing measles-rubella and tetanus-diphtheria vaccines to Grade One and Grade Seven students. Emphasizing the importance of parental involvement, he stated, “It is important to vaccinate our children because, once again, our vaccines are free, safe, and most effective.”
Building on this, Dr. Rodney R. Labis, Provincial Health Officer I from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office, highlighted the need to strengthen local health systems through robust policies, funding support, agency collaboration, effective health promotion, disease surveillance, skilled health professionals, and the availability of vaccines and medical supplies. “By focusing on these strategies, we aim to fortify our local health systems to prevent and control diseases and outbreaks in schools and communities,” Dr. Labis emphasized.
Echoing the urgency, Mr. Teodoro Padilla, Executive Director of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), stressed the critical role of vaccination in protecting children. “Vaccination is one of the most successful public health interventions. It is crucial to vaccinate children during this critical period to prevent school outbreaks, reduce absences, and ensure educational continuity,” he said.
Building on this point, Dr. Lulu Bravo, Executive Director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV), emphasized the importance of ensuring vaccine availability to meet immunization goals. She noted, “We can only achieve a high vaccination coverage rate if the vaccine supply is available at the health centers. Without the vaccine at the time of visit, it is always a missed opportunity to vaccinate.”
Further emphasizing the importance of vaccination, Dr. Hector Santos, President of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), urged parents to prioritize vaccination. “There is nothing more vital than safeguarding children’s health with vaccines that prevent serious diseases,” he stated.
Health experts at the forum called on both public and private stakeholders to collaborate and integrate all available programs to bridge gaps in childhood vaccination and empower parents to prioritize their children’s health and well-being. They emphasized that no child should die from preventable diseases and called for concerted efforts to increase vaccination coverage.
The media forum, moderated by journalist and health advocate Jing Castañeda, was organized by PHAP, PFV, and PMA.
