Amidst the country’s easing restrictions and progress against COVID-19, two model local government units (LGUs) are silently championing the country’s flagship program on child immunization against other life- threatening diseases — a program that other LGUs should pay equal attention to as they potentially move forward from COVID-19 operations.
Data from Guagua, Pampanga showed that the case of polio in the province was close to zero, while vaccination of babies up to two years old against measles, mumps and rubella was at 97 percent last year.
Gapan Mayor Dante Torres made sure that every nurse and midwife was the first to be vaccinated against COVID-19 so they could report to the health centers to inoculate babies. Extra allowances were also given to health workers to keep them motivated.
Torres said that communication is crucial, so they educate parents on the importance of routine vaccination through a radio program in a local station.
Gondelina Balanay, Expanded Program on Immunization coordinator in Ilocos Norte, said that the anticipated surge in pregnancies brought by the COVID-19 pandemic meant that they needed to ensure accessibility, availability, and continuity of the National Immunization Program as young children had no protection against COVID-19.
In their community, barangay health workers diligently log mothers who gave birth in a target client list so that they can keep track and follow-up whenever a baby is due for vaccination. This is supported by an effective referral system which is made possible by close coordination among different hospitals and government units.
Gondelina also gave instructions to accommodate visiting mothers even when it was outside the dedicated vaccination day for child immunization.
As a result of their consistent and best practices, Gondelina shared that the fully immunized children coverage in their community increased from 73 percent in 2020 to 77.57 percent in 2021.
Dr. Lulu Bravo, pediatric infectious disease expert and the executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV), lauded the efforts of LGUs who prioritize health and can still pay attention to routine vaccination, while calling for a healthy competition to raise vaccine awareness.
“Every LGU should compete with one another in making health and vaccination a priority because vaccines are there. As an LGU, you can do a lot of things to improve your constituents, province. If you are a good leader, it should be your goal to make vaccine-preventable diseases zero,” she explained.
“The healthier you are, the wealthier you will be. Vaccination is an investment in health and wealth,” she pointed out.
To strengthen efforts on routine immunization amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the PFV has partnered with GlaxoSmithKline Philippines Inc. to launch “Vax My Baby” — a year-long, multisectoral vaccine mobilization campaign that aims to mobilize target LGUs in revamping routine immunization services in the community, as well as educate parents about the importance of routine vaccines and how to safely access them in the community.
