Manila: The Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, has reiterated the importance of achieving vaccine coverage targets to prevent outbreaks, highlighting the critical role of immunization in public health. "Vaccination is a cornerstone of the DOH's 8-Point Action Agenda," stated DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa in a recent news release.
According to Philippines News Agency, as of February 2025, 1,542,282 of the 2,392,392 children aged 0 to 12 months have been fully vaccinated. This marks an improvement with the number of unvaccinated or 'zero-dose children' decreasing to 163,000 in 2023 from over 1 million during 2020 and 2021. Despite this progress, the coverage for the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) remains at 66 percent among eligible indigent senior citizens. The influenza vaccine has reached 65.57 percent of the eligible population, which includes seniors, healthcare workers, and individuals with comorbidities.
UNICEF Philippines acting Representative Behzad Noubary warned that the progress achieved in immunization could be compromised without sustained action and funding. "Routine immunization has saved many lives in the Philippines by eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus, containing measles outbreaks, and ending polio transmission in 2021," he noted. Noubary emphasized that the government's continued investment in the national immunization program would help build resilient, sustainable systems, particularly in reaching underserved populations.
To further enhance vaccination coverage across different life stages and bolster community immunization efforts, the DOH participated in the World Immunization Week (WIW) from April 24 to 30. During the national launch of the WIW in Calbayog City, Samar, more than 31,000 individuals are set to be vaccinated. The initiative targets children aged 0-12 months with pentavalent jabs and vaccines for tuberculosis, polio, pneumonia, measles, mumps, and rubella. In addition, senior citizens will receive flu and pneumonia shots, girls aged 9 to 14 years will get the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, and pregnant women will be administered the tetanus-diphtheria vaccine.
Herbosa concluded, "Towards Universal Health Care, we continue to engage local leaders, parents, health workers, and partners to build a strong and resilient immunization system, where the promise of improved vaccination coverage rates is realized, and more lives across life stages are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases."
