Health organizations declare their support for the Department of Health’s (DOH) month-long supplementary immunization activities, stressing that vaccination strengthens children’s immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases. (Photo courtesy of the Department of Health)
The Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) on Thursday, May 11, disclosed that immunization rates in the country have dwindled over the past few years.  This, according to the health organizations, is why they are restating their support for the national government’s continuous immunization efforts. “We really need to catch up because the Philippines is lagging in immunization coverage. We have a large percentage of children who have not been vaccinated,” said PIDSP President Dr. Fatima Gimenez in a media conference. Gimenez said among the top factors that fuel vaccine hesitancy include the cost of vaccines, misinformation, as well as the Dengvaxia controversy which “still haunts the public.” “Kung may agam agam, tumawag sa pediatrician o pumunta sa inyong local government unit o center para maklaro. Huwag tumingin sa sites that may give misinformation dahil ‘yan ang kalaban (If in doubt, call a pediatrician or go to your LGU or a center to clarify. Do not look for sites that give misinformation because that is the enemy),” said Gimenez. According to DOH, nine to 59 month-old children are eligible to get vaccinated against measles and rubella. Oral polio vaccines, on the other hand, are given to zero to 59 month-old children. This ongoing nationwide vaccination campaign takes place until May 31, 2023.

Adverse effects

Parents who are still hesitant to get their children vaccinated were assured that no severe side effects have been recorded so far following a measle, rubella, and polio vaccine. “In general, oral polio adverse effects are very rare. It’s quite rare to have any reaction to an oral polio vaccine. As for MR, usually the adverse effects that we expect would just be fever and a rash — very short lived and nothing anaphylaxis has been reported,” said PPS Chair Committee on Public Relations Engagement System Services Dr. Carmela Kasala. She, however, reiterated that monitoring and surveillance is an evolving science. Filipinos were encouraged to report adverse events following a vaccination so that experts may learn and find out more about it.