MANILA, Philippines—Health professionals on Wednesday called on government to offer free anti-pneumonia vaccines to children to pull the country out of the list of the top 10 countries with the highest child pneumonia cases.

“If only we can include this vaccine in the National Immunization Program, many infants would be saved,” Dr. Lulu Bravo of the National Institutes of Health said in a forum organized by the Philippine College of Physicians to mark World Pneumonia Day on Nov. 2.

The theme of the observance is: “9,000 Filipino infants and kids die of pneumonia every year. What can each of us do about it?”

Several vaccines are included in the current National Immunization Program, such as anti-tuberculosis, measles, polio and tetanus, but pneumonia is not one of them.

The vaccine is the most effective preventive step against pneumonia although medical professionals also stress the importance of proper nutrition, childcare and protection against pollution.

Dr. Eric Tayag of the Department of Health’s National Epidemiology Center noted that the high number of deaths due to pneumonia puts the country among the top 10 countries in the world with the highest pneumonia cases.

“We should not ignore pneumonia,” he said, adding it can be also prevented by proper hand washing.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs characterized by cough, fever and difficulty breathing. It is caused by the pneumococcus and Hib bacteria.

Bravo added that children who survive pneumonia often have impaired mental and physical growth.

“Health is an investment and we are calling on health workers and government to make an investment for children, to give them the health services, vaccines and the care needed to fight this illness,” she added.

Monina Buccat of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Health expressed support for the passage of new legislation providing for free pneumonia vaccination in public health centers. She urged advocates to write to their representatives to drum up more support.

Bravo pointed out that the anti-pneumonia vaccine is given to young children for free in Latin America but Asian countries are lagging behind in this regard.

The vaccine costs P2,500 to P5,000 if bought from the private sector.