The ongoing measles and pertussis outbreaks in the Philippines have prompted the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to call for an improvement in the country’s vaccination program. As the nation observes World Immunization Week, the Philippines is grappling with measles outbreaks in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARRM) and pertussis outbreaks in parts of Luzon and Visayas. Furthermore, nearly 70% of provinces and cities are at high risk of polio.
These diseases, which are highly infectious and pose a serious threat to children, are all preventable through vaccination. UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov emphasized the importance of immunization in a robust health system and urged leaders to visit the hardest-hit communities to witness the challenges faced by families and health workers.
Data from UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022 revealed that there are 637,000 unvaccinated children in the Philippines. UNICEF has called on national and regional governments to enhance the predictability of vaccine stock-outs, increase the number of vaccination teams, provide better support and compensation for barangay health workers, and prepare the health system for potential shocks like disasters and climate change.
On the demand side, efforts should focus on improving social preparation of communities before immunization campaigns, enhancing social listening, and intensifying engagement with community influencers. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region has already initiated a measles outbreak response immunization in early April, with vaccination coverage for children reaching 72% by April 17.
In a bid to tackle the outbreaks and improve vaccination rates, UNICEF stresses the importance of collaborative efforts between the government and communities to ensure the health and well-being of all Filipino children.
