THE Philippines is no longer among Top 5 countries with a high number of “zero-dose children,” or those who have not received any routine vaccine, or according to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
This means, he said, “we have more children with at least one dose of vaccine.”
“Previously, we were at No. 4. Now, we got a lower ranking. There is a slight improvement,” he added.
According to The State of the World’s Children 2023, the Philippines has around 1.5 million zero-dose children, placing the country in the Top 5 list.
Herbosa attributed the improvement to the DOH’s enhanced immunization program.
“That’s a tribute to our immunization program… There are now more children reached by vaccination,” he said.
Nevertheless, Herbosa said they are still not satisfied with the decrease in the number of zero dose children.
“We hope to encourage more parents and children to get the necessary protection through our national immunization program,” said Herbosa.
Among vaccines included in the national immunization program are those for tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and measles.
