World Immunization Week champions ‘Long Life for All’
THE last week of April is dedicated to celebrating World Immunization Week and bringing light to the importance of vaccines and routine immunization. The theme of the World Immunization Week 2022 is “long life for all,” emphasizing that people of any age can benefit from the lifesaving effects of vaccines.
Health organizations around the world aim to bring people together to promote proper education about vaccines, eradicate the fear surrounding them, and help them live long and full lives by protecting everyone against vaccine-preventable diseases.
Following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant drop in the number of immunized children. UNICEF data shows that over 23 million children have missed out on their basic vaccinations since the height of the pandemic in 2020. The Philippine Foundation for Vaccination fears the threat of an outbreak of measles, polio, and other vaccine-preventable diseases if children keep missing out on their routine vaccination.
Fear and complacency have taken over the parents of this generation. People refuse to take their children to vaccination sites due to the threat of the coronavirus infection. Immunization rates continue to go down despite the COVID-19 outbreak being contained. The solution for vaccine hesitancy lies in education, innovation, and readiness. The World Immunization Week aims to raise awareness not only about the importance of vaccines but also about the issues in the healthcare system that are causing the decline of vaccine
Dr. Enrique Tayag, director of the National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health (DoH), shares the challenges health workers are facing following the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the vaccination coverage for children and infants during the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV) Lay Panel Discussion last April 21 at Lipa, Batangas.
“Ang ating mga bata ay hindi nadadala sa mga health centers, lalo na yung mga 0-2.” said Dr. Benito Atienza, President of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA). “Kailangan natin i-engganyo ang mga magulang na dalhin ang mga bata… ngayon na ang cases natin sa COVID-19 ay mababa. Ito na ‘yung nararapat na [panahon] para dalhin sila sa health centers, pabakunahan at… [gawin] ang tinatawag na catch-up immunization.” Catch-up immunizations are for children who missed out on their basic vaccines.
Dr. Maria Wilda Silva, head of the DoH’s National Immunization program said that hospitals are on high alert for children with fever or rashes, fearing that a measles, polio, or COVID-19 outbreak may be looming upon us.
Dr. Lulu Bravo, executive director of the PFV, reminded people not to rely on houseto-house service and instead encouraged parents and guardians to bring their children to health centers to be vaccinated for faster and more complete service.
Dr. Silva said that the solution lies in vaccine education and readiness of immunization sites. Misinformation surrounding vaccines has fostered fear amongst people. Hesitancy also grows when parents bring their children to immunization sites only to end up getting denied due to lack of supply and personnel. Educating people about vaccines and ensuring that supply and personnel are present at immunization sites can greatly influence high vaccine coverage.
Dr. Maria Cristina Ignacio-Alberto, pediatrician and member of the PFV, shared that the DoH and private sectors are creating ways to innovate the vaccination process such as holding drive-through vaccinations in modified parking lots.
Dr. Tayag informed that Thursdays and Fridays of the last week of the month are now dedicated to catch-up vaccinations, according to an advisory from the DoH.
“Long life for all.” Dr. Tayag reiterated this year’s World Immunization Week theme, and reminded everyone that vaccines are not only for children but also for those who are most vulnerable like seniors and pregnant women.