ANTIPOLO CITY, Rizal (PIA) — The Department of Health - Center for Health Development Calabarzon (DOH 4-A) on Thursday, April 28 leads the nationwide launch of the World Immunization Week at SM City Masinag, Antipolo City, Rizal.
The program includes a ceremonial vaccination for infants, adolescents, senior citizens, and the pregnant to raise awareness of the importance of immunization programs.
World Immunization Week is celebrated every last week of April and aims to promote collective action to immunize citizens.
In his keynote speech, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has heavily affected inoculation against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD).
He added that the government is set to catch up immunize the unvaccinated and under-vaccinated Filipinos of all age groups.
"Sa ating buong kampanya ay hikayatin natin ang mga Pilipino na kumpletuhin nila ang kanilang bakuna mula pagkabata hanggang sa kanilang pagtanda," Duque said.
The health secretary also stressed that the government is proactive in its VPD immunization and will not wait for any outbreak before pushing for enhanced vaccination drives.
Chikiting Bakunation Days
According to DOH-CHD 4A Family Health Unit Cluster Head Restituta Magpantay, Chikiting Bakunation Days, the government's initiative to boost child immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases is set to take place every last week of the month on Thursdays and Fridays from April to June 2022.
The catch-up immunization, according to Dr. Kim Patrick Tejano, National Immunization Program Manager, targets the immunization of at least 80% of approximately 1,100,000 infants from 0 to 23 months old who have missed their routine vaccination in 2021.
While the DOH strives to continue routine immunization services accessible to Filipino children through catch-up and community-based vaccinations, the department says that the country may still face lower Fully Immunized Child (FIC) coverage than in 2020.
DOH now also advocates for re-diverting attention to primary health care services such as routine immunization while simultaneously transitioning to a new normal due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local government unit support
Vice Governor Reynaldo San Juan Jr., representing Governor Rebecca Ynares, thanked the DOH and partner agencies for their support to Rizal Province adding that the World Immunization Day program in Antipolo City is an effective means to dispel misconceptions about vaccination and its benefits.
"Immunization saves millions of lives and is considered one of the world's best health interventions," Vice Gov. San Juan said.
Meanwhile, Antipolo City Mayor Andrea Ynares said that before the launch of the program, the city government has assigned days for routine vaccination despite the pandemic.
Mayor Ynares adds that the city government has long seen the scientific benefits of routine vaccination and thanks DOH for choosing the city as the venue for the World Immunization Week program. (GG/PIA-Rizal)
