Last April, the San Juan city government opened the doors of the Makabagong San Juan Theater to host the Department of Health’s kickoff for World Immunization Week and the pre-launch of the “Ligtas Tigdas” campaign. More than a ceremonial gathering, the event served as a reminder of something we sometimes only remember during health crises: vaccines save lives.

As a father of four, this is an undertaking that I take to heart not only as a public official, but as a parent. In our family, vaccination has always been part of how my wife Keri and I care for our four children, Amanda, Rocco, Nicolas, and Noah. From the time our eldest was born, Keri and I made it a point to follow our pediatrician’s vaccine schedule closely. We kept our children’s baby books organized and updated because we understood that these records represented protection, responsibility, and care.

This same belief guided us during the Covid-19 pandemic. As soon as vaccines became available for their respective age groups, all of my children were vaccinated and eventually boosted. We did this because we trusted the science. More importantly, I believed then and I continue to believe now that as a leader, I could never ask the public to embrace something I would refuse for my own family. The fact that I had my children vaccinated shows that I trust these DOH vaccines. Seeing my children healthy and thriving only strengthened my conviction that vaccines work.

This year’s World Immunization Week was especially meaningful as it coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Philippines’ National Immunization Program which is an important milestone that reflects generations of work to protect Filipino families from preventable diseases. Anchored on the global theme “For Every Generation, Vaccines Work” and the local message “Bakuna at Proteksyon ni Baby, My Responsibility,” the campaign highlighted a shared responsibility carried by both government and parents alike.

At the center of this effort is the Department of Health (DOH), under the leadership of Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, whose administration continues to push for stronger immunization coverage nationwide. In his video message during the event, Sec. Herbosa emphasized the urgent need to reach “zero-dose children” or children who have not received even a single routine vaccine. Through strengthened barangay-level immunization efforts, the government aims to achieve a 95 percent full immunization rate among children aged zero to 59 months against diseases such as measles, polio, and rubella.

In San Juan, we did our part. During the event, the city served 250 beneficiaries through routine and catch-up doses, including human papillomavirus (HPV) and tetanus-diphtheria (Td) immunizations. Our priority sectors included infants and young children, Grade IV students eligible for HPV vaccination, pregnant women, and families needing routine immunization support. We also set up health education booths and community activities to strengthen vaccine awareness and public confidence.

But beyond the numbers and targets, immunization is ultimately about peace of mind. It is about parents knowing they have done everything they can to keep their children safe. It is about communities protecting one another, especially the young, the elderly, and those whose health conditions make them vulnerable.

While the DOH ensures that vaccines are available, the success of every immunization campaign and the bridge to a healthier Philippines still depends on trust and participation at the community level. Local governments help bring services closer to the people, but it is us, parents, who make the important decision to bring their children to the health center. Every vaccine administered contributes not only to the protection of one child, but also to the broader shield of what we call “herd immunity” — our collective defense against outbreaks that can endanger entire communities.

As National President of the League of Cities of the Philippines, President of the Metro Manila Council and Mayor of the City of San Juan, I call on my fellow mayors to continue prioritizing immunization programs in their respective cities and municipalities. Our responsibility is not only to support national health targets, but to ensure that these services truly reach every barangay, every family, and every child who needs them.

But this effort cannot succeed through government action alone.

To every parent, I encourage you to take advantage of these free vaccination programs. We already have the vaccines, trained healthcare workers, and systems in place to protect our children from diseases that can lead to lifelong complications or even death. What remains is for us to act together.

Vaccination is not just a mere medical procedure. It is one of the simplest and most meaningful acts of love and responsibility we can offer our children.