BY GEORGE NAVA TRUE II
VACCINE hesitancy is a growing problem in the Philippines, and it could kill more people than COVID-19.
Prof. Heidi Larson of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicines said that vaccine confidence in the country dropped to 32% in 2018 from 93% in 2015. This occurred after the Dengvaxia controversy.
Many are concerned with vaccine safety and efficacy. A March 2021 Pulse Asia survey showed that 61% of Filipinos do not want to get the Covid-19 vaccine. These people were afraid of possible side effects. Because of this, the government missed its vaccination targets which are bad for people with comorbidities.
High risk of severe complications
Doctors said that people with underlying medical conditions like obesity, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and diabetes are at high risk of getting severe complications when infected with Covid-19. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends vaccination for people who fall under this category provided their medical conditions are controlled.
But COVID-19 is not the only thing the public has to worry about if it continues to shun vaccination which has prevented a lot of diseases.
In 2019, the Department of Health (DOH) said there was an eight-fold increase in the incidence of measles in several provinces. This contrasts with the global trend of decreasing rates of vaccine-preventable diseases.
To increase awareness about the efficacy and safety of vaccination and help curb the pandemic, the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations (PAPO), which represents 38 patient groups in the country, recently launched the Bakuna, Now Na campaign. For this, PAPO partnered with the DOH and the campaign is also supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Philippine Medical Association, the Philippine Pharmacists Association together with former Health Secretaries Carmencita Reodica, MD, Esperanza Cabral, MD, Manuel Dayrit, MD, and Janette Garin, MD.
In addition, the patient-led campaign aims to support efforts towards vaccine equity through various initiatives and collaborations with governments, manufacturers, and the COVAX facility among other platforms.
Vulnerable to diseases
“The pandemic has made Filipino patients more vulnerable to sickness and hardships. We urge everyone, including patients and their families, to get vaccinated against CoVID-19 to protect yourself and others from this potentially life-threatening illness,” said PAPO President Ma. Fatima Lorenzo.
“The Bakuna, Now Na is a campaign for Filipino patients and by Filipino patients. We hope that through this, we can inform patients and the public that vaccines are safe and effective since they have gone through regulatory approvals and scientific research. We are stronger and healthier together, which is why we are calling on everyone to get vaccinated,” added Karen Alparce-Villanueva, PAPO treasurer and campaign project lead.
Among others, the campaign will educate people on frequently asked questions about CoVID-19 vaccines and dispel myths with medical facts. It will translate complicated medical terms into easy-to-digest content to help the public.
Get vaccinated
“The DOH is pleased to partner with the PAPO to increase vaccine confidence and vaccinate more people as soon as possible. We continue to call on patients and senior citizens to get vaccinated because this is one of the proven ways to stop the pandemic. Vaccines along with the wearing of face masks, hand washing, and physical distancing will help us move forward,” according to DOH Health Promotions Bureau Director Dr Beverly Lorraine Ho.
Dr Nina Gloriani, DOST Vaccine Expert Panel chair, was also present during the launch as the advocacy will feature information from the country’s medical and vaccines experts.
For more information about the campaign or to sign the PAPO Unity Statement, visit www.papo.ph or its Facebook page.
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National Press Club and Philippine Dental Association awardee George N. True II has written two bestsellers based on his popular column which has been running for almost 40 years. For questions about health, email georgenavatrue@yahoo.com./PN
