Unicef urges more focus on vaccine shots for kids

‘CHIKITING LIGTAS’ Small children are vaccinated against measles at the launch of the “Chikiting Ligtas (safe little ones)” immunization drive in San Juan City on Thursday, with Health Undersecretary Enrique Tayag and Mayor Francis Zamora leading the program. —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

The United Nations Fund (Unicef) Philippines urged the government to pay more attention to inoculating babies and toddlers from common children’s diseases.

During the launch of the “Chikiting Ligtas” in San Juan City, Unicef Philippines’ chief of communication Niko Wieland noted that vaccine hesitancy and misinformation stem from a lack of education and financial capability on the part of parents.

Wieland lauded the government for its COVID-19 inoculation efforts over the past two years and urged the government to apply the same to the vaccination of young children.

Dr. Robert Kezaala, World Health Organization lead for vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization, said the issue of vaccine hesitancy is “complex,” as it ranges from delays in service delivery, vaccine procurement to outright refusal.

Assistant Health Secretary Beverly Ho admitted the Philippines has never reached the ideal 95-percent immunization coverage, hovering at only around 60 percent to 75 percent. —KATHLEEN DE VILLA

READ: Unicef worries over new stay-at-home policy for minors in Metro Manila