The Department of Health (DOH), alongside UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), announced a plan to achieve 95% immunization coverage for children by 2025.
This initiative was highlighted during the recently concluded 2nd National Immunization Summit.
“Throughout this summit, we have celebrated significant milestones; achieving higher vaccination coverage, implementing innovative delivery systems, and expanding access to vaccines across communities,” said DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
“The vision we share is of a country where every individual, regardless of circumstance, has equitable access to vaccines; a vision rooted in equity and resilience,” he added.
The National Immunization Acceleration Plan for 2024-2025 includes several innovative strategies to improve vaccination access and data management.
In Region 12, coalition-building efforts have secured ₱70 million in funding for vaccination initiatives while Region 3 has implemented the Reaching Every Purok (REP) strategy to expand immunization access in remote areas.
Additionally, Santiago City in Cagayan Valley strengthened its cold chain management to ensure vaccine quality and in Cavite, the Bakuna Enumerator Application (BenApp) has improved vaccination data management significantly.
In the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Muslim leaders are actively promoting immunization within their communities.
UNICEF Acting Representative Behzad Noubary stated that integrating immunization into broader health strategies is vital for protecting vulnerable populations.
“Together, let’s build a coalition of immunization champions and invest in all pillars of immunization – from leadership and governance; service delivery; cold chain, logistics, and supply; to and demand generation,” he said.
He expressed hope that continued collaboration will lead to healthier outcomes for children across the Philippines.
As of January 20, 61% of eligible children are fully immunized, which includes critical vaccines by their first birthday.
However, over 933,000 children remain unaccounted for, leaving them at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria.
WHO Representative Dr. Rui Paulo de Jesus emphasized the need for efficient coordination among health service providers and communities to maintain vaccination gains.
“Let us commit to ensuring sustainable vaccine supply so that no one is left behind in immunization,” he said.
The Philippines has made significant progress in reducing the number of zero-dose children from one million in 2021 to just 163,000 in 2023.
Experts agree that building a coalition of stakeholders will strengthen all aspects of immunization programs nationwide.
The summit gathered a wide array of participants, including government agencies, UN partners, civil society organizations, medical associations, and youth advocates.
Supported by USAID and the Australian Government, the event focused on forming coalitions to enhance and sustain immunization efforts across the nation.