2.2 million babies, tots need ‘catch up’ immunization

MANILA, Philippines — Some 2.2 million infants and toddlers are up for routine and catch-up immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases in a special campaign that begins today in Manila and certain provinces.

Dr. Joanna Borallo of the Department of Health’s (DOH) national immunization program said the “Chikiting Bakunation Days” would target the “zero dose” kids and those who missed their vaccination schedules because of quarantine restrictions.

Of the target beneficiaries, 1.1 million are infants up to 12 months old and 560,393 are toddlers 1 year old to 2 years old who missed their schedules in 2021. The remaining 577,201 are newborns and infants age up to 12 months who are eligible for vaccination this year.

Borallo said an outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases was “imminent” due to people’s increased mobility, poor surveillance, and a huge population susceptible to such illnesses as measles, acute flaccid paralysis, diphtheria, neonatal and non-neonatal tetanus and pertussis.

“As [the number of] COVID-19 cases go down and mobility restrictions are eased, this means that the transmission of [COVID-19 and vaccine-preventable diseases] is more likely to happen,” Borallo said in an online Kapihan on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.called on the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) to quickly issue recommendations and guidelines on anti-COVID-19 second booster shots for health-care workers and other priority groups.

Speaking at a meeting with President Duterte and other Cabinet officials that was aired on state TV on Wednesday, Galvez said the HTAC approval for second booster shots was necessary to prepare for or avert a possible surge in coronavirus cases.

“Because of the current urgency of the situation, we are appealing to the HTAC to expedite the inclusion of health-care workers. If we have an uptick [of cases], our health-care workers will suffer,” he said, adding that the council should also include seniors for increased vaccine coverage and “continuous protection.”

Measles in all regions

DOH data as of Jan. 5 showed measles cases in all regions among kids age 6 or 5 years old. Those reported were either unvaccinated or with unknown inoculation status.

Cases are highest in highly urbanized areas such as Metro Manila and Calabarzon, Borallo said.

While routine immunization for children is readily available in health facilities, the special campaign seeks to widen coverage among those susceptible to infectious diseases.

The campaign will be conducted until Friday in selected provinces in Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Central and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga and Soccsksargen. Nationwide implementation is scheduled on May 26-27 and again on June 30-July 1.

Medical experts have also warned of a possible outbreak of vaccine-preventable diseases.

In an online webinar on Monday, Dr. Joselyn Eusebio, president of the Philippine Pediatric Society, said an outbreak was always possible due to low vaccination rates.

Director Beverly Ho of the DOH said the government was “recognizing that great risk, and that is why children should get inoculated as soon as possible.”

Citing government data, Ho said child immunization fell to 48.5 percent in 2021 from some 70 percent in 2019 due to quarantine restrictions.

“It’s not just the virus itself … but really the activities now that promote more interaction among kids, [leading to] more risk of transmission,” Ho said.

To ramp up the drive against vaccine-preventable diseases, different strategies will be undertaken, including house-to-house vaccination and assigning health-care workers solely to immunization work, according to Dr. Resty Magpantay of DOH-Calabarzon.

Nurses are also working with other health professionals to conduct immunization programs especially in communities, said Philippine Nurses Association president Melvin Miranda.

OFWs too

Galvez said the HTAC should also look into the inclusion of overseas Filipino workers as recipients of second booster doses because some host countries like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as well as manning agencies had issued such a requirement for migrant labor.

“If we don’t include them as second booster dose recipients, they may not be prioritized for employment overseas, especially our seafarers,” Galvez said.

The HTAC is an advisory body created under Republic Act No. 11223, or the Universal Health Care Act, to conduct technology appraisals and guidance on health interventions and technologies to be funded by the government.

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