As countries celebrate World Immunization Week, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has emphasized the importance of vaccines in preventing diseases and avoiding severe fatal complications brought about by diseases such as Covid-19.
World Immunization Week is celebrated from April 24 to 30.
Dr. Benito P. Atienza, the president of PMA, said that the people have forgotten about other vaccines due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Pinapahalagahan po natin ngayong world immunization week na ito na mabigyan ng bakuna lahat ng mga tao sa komunidad natin (This World Immunization Week, we give importance to inoculating all people in our community),” he said during a “Laging Handa” briefing, Monday, April 25.
“Kasi hindi lamang mga bata, anti cervical cancer para sa ating mga babaeng 15 years old and above, and pagbibigay sa ating senior citizens ng flu vaccines at pneumonia vaccines para sa kanila (It’s not just for children, we also give anti-cervical cancer vaccines for women 15 years old and above, and we also administer anti-flu vaccine and pneumonia vaccine for them),” he continued.
According to him, World Immunization Week reminds the public of the salience of vaccines to stop the spread of preventable diseases such as measles.
Atienza recalled that, in 2019, around 800 unvaccinated children died in the country due to complications caused by measles.
“Let us remember that vaccines are our defense against diseases. When we get vaccinated, in case a pandemic starts, we can contain it through the immunity given by the vaccine,” the PMA president noted.
In line with the celebration of this, Atienza said additional programs will be implemented to strengthen the vaccination efforts in the country.
“Ang importante po ay makarating ‘yung tamang impormasyon sa ating community (It is important to provide the correct information to our community),” he added.