DOH steps up drive to address low vaccination coverage, hesitancy

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday laid down its plans to intensify its campaign and measures to address low vaccination rates and vaccination hesitancy. During the continuation of the House committee on appropriations’ briefing on the proposed budget of the DOH for next year, Rep. Girlie Veloso asked the agency for its concrete actions as she expressed her concern regarding the low vaccination coverage among children aged 12 to 23 months. Citing the 2025 National Demographic and Health Survey, she noted that 4 out of 10 children among this age group were not fully vaccinated. Article continues after this advertisement READ: DOH: 1M NCR children vaccinated vs measles-rubella DOH Undersecretary Gloria Balboa acknowledged that the agency needs to “sustain and increase public trust” as she shared that one of the reasons behind the low vaccination rate, aside from delays in vaccine procurement, is the “persistent vaccine hesitancy that is brought about by, let’s say, misinformation.” Balboa underscored the importance of coordinating with local government officials and other authorities to help address vaccine hesitancy among communities by strengthening information campaigns. READ: Vaccine misinformation hampers measles-rubella drive in Central Visayas “We have to involve our community leaders, those people that they trust in the community para magtiwala yung ating mga magulang para magpabakuna and improve on our information campaign kasi we really need to do this, medyo matagal na po but then still there is a need to intensify, educate our parents and all the members of the community,” she said. Article continues after this advertisement (We have to involve our community leaders, those people that they trust in the community so the parents can trust us to vaccinate their children and improve on our information campaign because we really need to do this, this has been overdue but then still there is a need to intensify, educate our parents and all the members of the community.) Aside from these measures, Balboa said the DOH will have to strengthen its vaccine supply and cold chain management system, as well as disease surveillance and outbreak response. Article continues after this advertisement In the same hearing, Health Secretary Edwin Mercado said early procurement of vaccines for the agency’s immunization programs has been set. He noted that some vaccines are delivered depending on their seasonality, such as flu and pneumonia vaccines, and the calendar of schools, such as human papillomavirus and cervical cancer vaccines for school girls. Lastly, Balboa said that there is a need to digitalize the immunization information system. “This is part of the digitalization that our present leadership will look into para mas maayos po yung ating information that we get especially on the ground that will guide us in our policy and decision making,” Balboa added. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. (This is part of the digitalization that our present leadership will look into so we can get proper information especially on the ground that will guide us in our policy and decision making.) /gsg