Because of parents' reluctance: Many kids still need immunization

CEBU, Philippines — Many parents are still reluctant to have their children vaccinated, said the Cebu City Health Department, which fell short of their immunization target due to the attitude of some parents.

The city’s top health officer, Dr. Daisy Villa, said that during her first two years of spearheading the CCHD a decade ago, they reached as high as over 80% of immunization, but this later declined.

Child deaths allegedly due to the Dengvaxia vaccine caused sudden reluctance of parents to have their kids vaccinated. She said the national government failed to fully explain the efficacy of the Dengvaxia vaccine to parents.

“Gidali-dali nato, gidiretso og implement, but sa efficacy sa vaccine, wala nato napasabot sa katawhan nga kani angay ni siya sa mga wala naigo sa dengue,” Villa explained through the city’s Sugboanon channel.

As the issue calmed down in 2019, the CCHD’s immunization efforts paid off after it secured a 92% immunization rate.

However, CCHD failed to sustain its momentum due to the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted to only 42% immunization among children in 2020.

CCHD was able to improve immunization rates in 2021 but only passed 59% of children less than a year old then and over 60% in its latest data.

Villa hopes to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated not for their department to reach an impressive target, but for the children to be protected from preventable diseases including measles, rubella, polio, diphtheria, tuberculosis, and mumps, among others.

Parents have to get their kids vaccinated if they are less than a year old in order to protect them from diseases that could be prevented through inoculation.

The CCHD and the city’s barangay health centers have available vaccines such as the Pentavalent vaccine which protects children from diphtheria, influenza, Hepatitis B, pertussis or whooping cough, and tetanus.

Other vaccines that can provide extensive protection for children are the BCG (Bacillus Calmette–Guérin) vaccine which prevents tuberculosis, the MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine, and the oral and injectable polio vaccine.

Parents who are still hesitant to get their kids vaccinated may consult the CHD or their respective doctor for proper guidance and avoid unreliable and untrustworthy information when it comes to vaccinating their children.

“Kung naa moy kalibog sa bakuna, kinahanglan, ginikanan, pangutana. Kay andam mi mohatag og klarong tubag nganong ing-ani man, nganong masakit ang bata kung hatagan og bakuna,” Villa said. — (FREEMAN)