WHO: Responsible reporting on vaccination key to saving lives

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine media must ensure responsible reporting on the benefits of vaccination and prevent the spread of misinformation and misconceptions on the government’s immunization program, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

“Here in the Philippines we need responsible reporting of the mainstream media on the benefits of vaccination and that is really important to counter on some of the false information circulating on social media,” WHO representative to the Philippines Dr. Gundo Weiler said in the 2019 World Immunization Day press briefing in Manila on Tuesday.

Weiler also expressed dismay over lives lost due to infectious diseases which could have been prevented by vaccinations.

“We must remember that every life lost due to measles is unexpected because these are diseases and infections that can be prevented by inexpensive and effective vaccination,” Weiler pointed out.

The Department of Health , World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) organized the World Immunization Day in the Philippines.

The event focused on promoting the essential benefits of vaccines in protecting the public from preventable illnesses. /gsg