The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), in partnership with the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV), and the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO), express our full support for the Department of Health (DOH) in commemorating World Immunization Week 2025. This year’s rallying cry—“Magpabakuna: Bakuna para sa lahat, kayang-kaya!”—underscores the importance of making vaccines accessible to all.
For over five decades, the World Health Organization’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), launched in 1974, has helped make vaccines one of the most powerful public health tools, saving lives, curbing outbreaks, and protecting people across all ages. To build on this success, the focus must now shift toward making vaccines more accessible through stronger health policies, streamlined procurement, and resilient supply chains. Achieving this requires continued investment and robust collaboration between the public and private sectors.
“Vaccination is a cornerstone of the DOH’s 8-Point Action Agenda. 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 is realized, and more lives are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases”, said DOH Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa.
PHAP Executive Director Teodoro Padilla added, “PHAP and its members have long supported the DOH in expanding access to life-saving vaccines. During the pandemic, we helped fast-track vaccine availability, strengthen distribution, and build public confidence on vaccination. These partnerships demonstrated the vital role of collaboration. As we face other vaccine-preventable and emerging diseases, we must apply these lessons and invest in research and innovation to help protect future generations.”
Dr. Maria Rosario Capeding, President of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, affirmed, “As champions of disease prevention, PFV proudly supports the DOH in advancing vaccine confidence. Our aim is to empower families with accurate information, ease the burden on public health systems, and improve Filipinos’ quality of life—one vaccine at a time.”
Dr. Hector Santos, President of the Philippine Medical Association, emphasized, “The PMA fully supports the DOH in advocating that vaccination is a fundamental right. As physicians, we are committed to protecting every Filipino through preventive care. We strongly believe that no one should be left behind in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases.”
Representing the patient community, Ms. Karen Alparce-Villanueva, President of the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations, stated, “We advocate for universal access to healthcare, especially preventive services like vaccination. By building vaccine confidence, promoting preventive care and improving health literacy, we help ensure that people—especially those with comorbidities—can live safer, healthier lives.”
As the nation observes World Immunization Week, PHAP and its partners reaffirm their commitment to protecting every Filipino through innovation, collaboration, and science. Together, we can strive for a future where no one is left unprotected—dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, bawat buhay mahalaga.
