Pneumonia now included in expanded immunization program

BUTUAN CITY, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday expanded its immunization program by including pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) against pneumonia, the second killer of Filipino children.

PCV will initially benefit some 333,000 infants aged six to 11 months in Caraga and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, who represent 14 percent of the 2.4-million targets nationwide.

According to DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag, this development makes the Philippines the 10th country in the 38-nation Western Pacific region to introduce PCV in the government vaccination program.

“Everyday, 200 children die before they reach their fifth birthday. Of this, 170 die before reaching their first birthday and 107 newborns die every day for the past three years. This is going to change,” he said during a launching ceremony here.

Pneumonia kills 37 Filipino children daily, thus including the Philippines in the top 10 countries burdened by the disease.

By including PCV in the DOH’s Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), Tayag said children will be protected not only against pneumonia but also against other pneumococcal infections like meningitis and otitis media or hearing infection.

The expansion of EPI was welcomed by teacher Chaime Garcia, 29, of Purok 2, Ampayon here, who submitted her five-month-old daughter Gedalia to a second dose of PCV provided for free by the DOH yesterday.

“I’m happy that PCV is free. It will save my family some P3,500 to P4,000 which we would have spent for my daughter’s second dose. Now, we can spend this money for her other needs,” she told The STAR.

Garcia intends to get her daughter fully vaccinated to ensure her protection.

Through the EPI, the girl had previously been immunized against childhood tuberculosis (BCG); diptheria-tetanus-hepatitis B-haemophilus – or the so-called 5-in-1; and rotavirus which was included last year.

“My child hardly gets sick and I know because of immunization. My daughter is somehow protected now,” Garcia said.

DOH Secretary Enrique Ona said treating pneumonia can cost up to P23,500 for hospitalization, including professional fee, consultation, laboratory tests and medication.

The government will be spending P2,050 for the three doses of PCV per child.

The introduction of PCV will be done in phases. More regions will be included in the EPI every year until the entire country is covered.

EPI also includes polio and measles-mumps-rubella.

According to Tayag, those who will be tasked to do the vaccination will undergo training so they expect the implementation to start next year.

He gave assurance that one million PCV will be made available for Caraga and ARMM for the next two years.

Tayag thanked all sectors involved in the vaccination program, including pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline which won the “tender” bidding to supply the vaccines.