Bakunadong Pinoy: A step toward a healthier nation

MANILA, Philippines - Vaccination has proven through the years to be a cost-effective public investment to control and even eliminate infectious diseases.

But despite the advancement and availability of new vaccines, immunization coverage remains low especially in developing countries such as the Philippines.

The immunization community today is called to action to increase efforts to promote disease prevention through vaccination which in turn will reduce illnesses and deaths and contribute to better productivity and economic growth.

Aligned with this paradigm and a vision where no one suffers or dies from vaccine preventable diseases was the inspiration in the development of Bakunadong Pinoy — a Immunization support program founded on three pillars of execution — advocacy, advancement and accessibility.

Bakunadong Pinoy was launched through a summit organized by the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination in partnership with Sanofi Pasteur. The event was held last Sept. 26-27 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu.

The Bakunadong Pinoy Summit provided the venue for health care practitioners to imbibe the importance of their role as advocates on the value of vaccination through scientific sessions on current vaccine trends such as the clinical development of the dengue vaccine and other interactive activities.

Ching Santos, country manager of Sanofi Pasteur Philippines, presented the program and one highlight of her message was that the pillars of Bakunadong Pinoy — accessibility, advocacy, and advancement — were designed to serve a specific purpose and created for a certain end.

But the drive for success of the program is not isolated on the endeavor alone, but encompasses the passion to serve the Filipino people.

Dr. May Montellano, president of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, presented the vision of the foundation as champions of disease prevention, where the foundation also envisions a sustained reduction in vaccine — preventable diseases for a healthy nation.

Efforts of the foundation to reach its goal were reflected by the numerous projects that were implemented since 2000.

Montellano said Bakunadong Pinoy is but the first step in a journey toward the realization of that vision.