Immunization meet tackles efforts to strengthen vaccine trust among Filipinos
“The events of these last two years have really stimulated us to come out and speak up, because the international scene is now looking at the Philippines as the number one vaccine hesitant country in the world,” said Dr. Lulu Bravo, executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV), during the 20th Philippine National Immunization Conference (PNIC) held in Batangas.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), vaccination can prevent up to two to three million deaths a year and another 1.5 million more can be avoided if coverage is improved.
When a population has 95 percent immunization coverage, this could eventually eradicate diseases such as measles, much like the eradication of smallpox globally.
With the help of vaccines available for free in local health centers, the Philippines gained the status as the 44th country to have eliminated tetanus. In the year 2000, the Philippines was also declared polio-free. However, due to the accumulation of non-vaccinated children and the drop in vaccination coverage, the Philippines and other parts of the world are seeing a recurrence of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio. The challenge is the growing number of parents delaying vaccinations or are deciding not to vaccinate their children altogether.
Breaking misconceptions against vaccines
The Department of Health lists fear due to recent controversial events as one of the reasons why parents and caregivers are not getting their family members immunized. Vaccines, however, undergo many clinical tests in order to be guaranteed safe and effective.
People tend to fear the sideeffects of vaccines, but these are mostly minor reactions such as a sore arm or fever, which are easily treated and can go away within a few days.
Another cause of hesitancy is the perceived high costs of vaccines. Immunization is available for free at local health centers and through vaccination caravans initiated by the Department of Health’s Expanded Program on Immunization. Vaccines which are available for free include polio vaccines, tuberculosis, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and most recently, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine administered to young women. It is also mandated by the Senior Citizen’s Act that indigent seniors must be given free pneumococcal vaccine.
Another misconception is the belief that vaccines are only for children. Immunization starts at childhood, but some cases may require a booster dose in adulthood. For senior citizens whose immune systems get comprised with age and health conditions, vaccines are of utmost importance. According to Dr. Shelley Dela Vega, president of the PFV, “Seniors have weaker defense mechanisms against infections, which is why vaccination is the most effective way to fight diseases for them.”
The road to a vaccine confident Philippines
The PFV in partnership with the Mary Mediatrix Medical Center, Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Pediatric Society - Southern Tagalog Chapter, Lipa City Medical Society, and the public and private health sectors, held the 20th PNIC to address the difficulties resulting from vaccine hesitancy and the steps to strengthen confidence in immunization across the country.
The forum, themed “Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy and Increasing Vaccine Confidence,” was participated by hundreds of physicians/clinicians, nurses, midwives, and other healthcare professionals and staff from both public and private health sectors.
Dela Vega emphasized the ongoing mission to address vaccine hesitancy as she stated, “We at the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination have for the past 20 years been communicating that vaccines are needed for children, adults, and seniors. Our mission is to reduce human morbidity and mortality through excellent communication, post-graduate vaccinology courses, and national immunization conferences. We also have moved on to not just training but also research on vaccines.”
The Department of Health pointed to the importance of increasing access to vaccination especially for children. Dr. Enrique Tayag, Department of Health Director IV said, “The best Christmas gift is for your child to be fully protected. We have more vaccination rounds in selected regions before November ends. There’s going to be a 2nd polio vaccination drive for children and we hope that we sustain the high coverage.”
Tayag also mentioned that after the rounds of administering the polio vaccine, they are close to completing the goal of 90 percent immunization coverage.
Batangas Gov. Hermilando also stated the province’s commitment in spreading the importance of vaccination and uplifting healthcare. “Right now we have budgeted no less than P2 billion in our health programs for 2020 alone. We’re really intensifying not only awareness but effectively executing the vaccine program.”