PH way off target for fully immunized kids

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THE number of fully immunized children in the Philippines remains low, at around 30 percent lower than expected at this time of the year, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Arnold Louie Alina, program director of the DOH’s Metro Manila Center for Health Development (MMCHD) said only 41.93 percent of infants and children have been fully immunized at one year of age as of as of September 30.

“Our desired target is 72 percent FIC (fully-immunized children) by the end of September 2024,” he said at a briefing on Tuesday.

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Alina said the National Capital Region (NCR) has the second highest number of FIC, at 51.99 percent, after the Ilocos Region (53.15 percent).

“We are still lacking for this period … plus our real FIC target is at 95 percent,” he said.

An FIC is defined as a child, who has received a dose Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine (for tuberculosis), three doses pentavalent vaccine (for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hemophilus influenzae type b [Hib], and Hepatitis B), three doses of oral polio vaccine (for polio), and two doses meningococcal vaccine (for meningitis) at his/her 12th month.

DOH-MMCHD Director Rio Magpantay said the strong presence of “anti-vaxxers,” especially on social media, is among main reasons for the low immunization coverage.

“Most of the time, those who are vulnerable are the ones receiving these information from anti-vaxxers, and they believe them,” Magpantay said.

Alina said another reason is the inability of parents to bring their children to health centers to get vaccinated.

“If you are looking at the demographics in the NCR, the population is mostly working adults and parents, who are unable to bring their children to health centers,” said Alina.

VACCINATION DRIVE

In a bid to boost the number of FIC in Metro Manila, the DOH-MMCHD said it will be holding a regionwide, month-long, catchup immunization drive.

Alina said the immunization drive will be held from November 18 to December 16. Vaccines will be made available at fixed posts such as health centers; temporary sites, like malls, churches, and terminals; and through house-to-house activities.

“The big catchup campaign will be helpful in avoiding possible outbreaks from vaccine-preventable diseases,” said Alina.

Targeted by the campaign are infants and children aged 0-23 months for missed doses of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), Hepatitis B, bivalent oral polio vaccine, pentavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV), and measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Alina said they are hoping for a high turnout for the immunization drive in Metro Manila.

“We want to reach 95 percent coverage after this big catchup immunization activity,” said Alina.

At the immunization drive, tetanus-diphtheria vaccines will also be made available for pregnant women, and one dose each of influenza and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines for senior citizens.

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