ILOILO City – The Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 stressed the importance of vaccinating children on time to prevent various diseases.
In line with the World Immunization Week celebration, Dr. Adriano Suba-an, DOH-6 director, emphasized collective responsibility in ensuring that no child is left unvaccinated.
The theme for this year’s celebration, “50 Years of Immunization, Happier and Healthier Lives, Kaya sa Healthy Pilipinas”, underscores the progress and ongoing challenges in immunization.
During the kick-off program in Santa Barbara, Iloilo where DOH-6 is located, the significant strides made in immunization over the past five decades and the continued need to ensure that every child receives timely vaccinations, were highlighted.
Suba-an, in a message read by Dr. May Ann Soliva-Sta. Lucia, chief of DOH-6’s Local Health Support Division, praised the efforts of healthcare workers and immunization teams who tirelessly work to make vaccines accessible to every child and community. H
e remarked, “Immunization is a vital aspect of our healthcare system. It is a preventive measure that has saved millions of lives and continues to do so every day.”
According to DOH-6, out of the 160,897 children targeted for routine immunization in Western Visayas this year, only 28,230, or 19.08%, have been vaccinated from January to March.
It thus stressed the urgency of increasing vaccination coverage, particularly among those who are most vulnerable.
Throughout the week, DOH-6, in collaboration with local government units and rural health units, will offer routine immunizations for children up to 12 months old, catch-up immunizations, and vaccines for human papillomavirus and pneumococcal diseases for older children and seniors.
Ana Margarette Navarro, a Health Education and Promotion Officer at DOH-6, said the World Immunization Week aims to highlight the collective action required to protect all community members from vaccine-preventable diseases.
This initiative celebrates the Essential Programme on Immunization’s 50th anniversary, a global effort to ensure equitable vaccine access for all children regardless of location or socioeconomic status.
Iloilo Provincial Health Office head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, supported by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., affirmed the provincial government’s commitment to the immunization program. She cited the effectiveness of vaccinations in preventing the spread of diseases such as pertussis in Santa Barbara, demonstrating the community’s high vaccination coverage and herd immunity.
Quiñon encouraged parents and caregivers to ensure their children avail of routine vaccinations, stressing, “Be the influence for them; show that vaccination truly works.”/PN
