Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Parents bring their babies to the Department of Health launching of Vax-Baby-Vax in Taguig City on November 7, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

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DOH-VACCINATION

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/173822381212720221107-DOH-infants-vaccination-JC-1871.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Parents bring their babies to the Department of Health launching of Vax-Baby-Vax in Taguig City on November 7, 2022. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) said it will intensify its information drive on vaccines and immunization to address vaccine hesitancy, which remains the main challenge to getting children fully immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/7/15/un-alarmed-as-childhood-immunization-levels-stall-1038">UN alarmed as childhood immunization levels stall</a></div><p>The DOH on Thursday opened its National Immunization Summit 2025, which it called an avenue for multi-sectoral collaboration to further protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases.</p><p>DOH Asec. for Public Health Services Cluster Farwa Hombre said fear of vaccines among the public, driven by misinformation, is still prevalent.</p><p>“Because of the social media may mga nababasa po sila ngayon na nagko-contradict po dun sa tinuturo po natin na matagal na epektibo nga po ang bakuna,” she said in a chance interview on the sidelines of the event.</p><p>(Because of social media, where they read claims that contradict what we say that vaccine have long been proven effective)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/1/27/doj-withdraws-charges-vs-garin-others-over-dengvaxia-vaccine-2201">DOJ withdraws charges vs. Garin, others over Dengvaxia vaccine</a></div><p>The DOH official also acknowledged that the Dengvaxia controversy continues to affect public perception on immunization.</p><p>The health official underscored the importance of vaccination to prevent the resurgence of outbreaks among the vulnerable sector.</p><p>Hombre also noted that they will proactively combat misinformation and disinformation while boosting efforts to educate the public on the safety and efficacy of vaccines.</p><p>“Even sa ibang programa, ‘yung mga &#x27;fake news&#x27; na naglalabasan, nagbibigay po kami ng report or ng advisory as well and we also coordinate with our social media platforms to take down those fake news,” she added. </p><p>(Even for our other programs, we issue reports or advisories against &#x27;fake news&#x27; and we coordinate with social media platforms to take down those &#x27;fake news&#x27;.)</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/05/08/19/unicef-ph-immunization-coverage-dropping-at-alarming-rate">UNICEF: PH immunization coverage dropping at alarming rate</a></div><p>The health department aims to immunize 95 percent of the child population in the country.</p><p>Partial and unofficial data from a DOH report showed that only 61 percent or 1.4 million children were considered fully-immunized as of December 31, 2024. </p><p>Fully-immunized children are those who have completed the necessary vaccinations before reaching one-year old.</p><p>Dr. Janis Bunoan-Macazo, DOH National Immunization Program manager, said these include one dose of BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin), three doses of pentavalent vaccine, three doses of oral polio vaccine, and two doses of measles, mumps, rubella vaccine.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/7/22/marcos-jr-approves-more-cash-aid-for-indigent-mothers-1752">Marcos Jr. approves more cash aid for indigent mothers</a></div><p>The agency said they are coordinating with manufacturers to mitigate the global shortage of Hepatitis B and pentavalent vaccines.</p><p>Despite this, the DOH assured there are no reported outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases in the country.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U4L7AmnA4l0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The DOH admitted that the Dengvaxia controversy continues to affect public perception on immunization.</p>

The DOH admitted that the Dengvaxia controversy continues to affect public perception on immunization.

Vaccine hesitancy main challenge in increasing fully-immunized children: DOH

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Vaccine hesitancy main challenge in increasing fully-immunized children: DOH

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 30, 2025 05:15 PM PHT

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Updated Feb 27, 2025 01:38 AM PHT

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