UNICEF seeks 'urgent action' amid decline in PH immunization coverage

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/04/24/20180424-ligtas-tigdas-aa.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Health Secretary Francisco Duque III supervises measles vaccination at the Parañaque City Hall at the launch of supplemental immunization activity dubbed as &quot;Ligtas Tigtas&quot; on Tuesday. ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - The United Nations Children&#x27;s Fund (UNICEF) has urged parents and communities to ensure the health of children through routine immunization as it noted a decline in vaccination coverage in the Philippines.Marking World Immunization Week, UNICEF highlighted the importance of vaccines for children&#x27;s health.&quot;While the Philippines eradicated polio in 2000 and eliminated Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus in 2017, we have fallen behind in routine immunization that protect children from diseases such as measles, diphtheria and hepatitis B. It’s time for urgent action,&quot; UNICEF said in a statement. &quot;Vaccines act as a shield that protects children, families, and communities and particularly the most vulnerable. Vaccines protect children against disease and death, saving up to three million lives every year,&quot; it said.Government had earlier noted a decline in routine vaccination coverage amid a scare over the possible ill effects of anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/06/18/amid-dengvaxia-scare-vaccination-coverage-drops-30-pct-in-some-areas-says-duque">Amid Dengvaxia scare: Vaccination coverage drops 30 pct in some areas, says Duque</a></li></ul>Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the proportion of children aged 12 to 23 months who received all basic vaccinations dropped from 77 percent in 2013 to 70 percent in 2017. Meanwhile, the percentage of children with no vaccination rose from 4 percent in 2013 to 9 percent in 2017.Only 80 percent of children have received the first dose of measles vaccination, while just 47 percent have received the second dose.A measles outbreak recorded this year which affected 700 children could have been prevented if more children were vaccinated, UNICEF said.“Ensuring that children complete their vaccines is not the job of health workers alone. Government agencies, non-government and people’s organizations, civic-oriented groups, faith-based organizations, academe and other partners—we can all work together to reach out to families and persuade them that vaccines are safe and effective,&quot; UNICEF Philippines Representative Lotta Sylwander said.&quot;We appeal to all parents and caregivers to ensure that their children are immunized according to schedule and encourage other families with children in their neighborhoods to do the same,” she said. UNICEF said it is working with the Department of Health to increase immunization coverage by strengthening routine immunization and improving processes to produce and distribute vaccines.It also helps strengthen local governance mechanisms, creating ordinances and health committees, and communicating health messages effectively, among others, at the barangay level.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has urged parents and communities to ensure the health of children through routine immunization as it noted a decline in vaccination coverage in the Philippines.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has urged parents and communities to ensure the health of children through routine immunization as it noted a decline in vaccination coverage in the Philippines.

UNICEF seeks 'urgent action' amid decline in PH immunization coverage | ABS-CBN

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UNICEF seeks 'urgent action' amid decline in PH immunization coverage

UNICEF seeks 'urgent action' amid decline in PH immunization coverage

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 24, 2018 07:00 PM PHT

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World Immunization Week

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