Herbosa 2.0 vs vaccine hesitancy

A number of medical practitioners who watched DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa give a media briefing on “Bakuna Eskwela” at Malacañang commented that it was a new and improved Sec. Herbosa on camera. Sec. Herbosa’s conduct and delivery was almost flawless, that viewers complimented the Presidential Communications Office for possibly coaching him so well.

To be fair, Sec. Herbosa can talk and has been around the DOH long enough to do so. The only time he misses the mark is when he is unprepared and not in a good mood or has not been “coached” to smile or be pleasant.

In any case, the media briefing centered mainly on a renewed drive towards vaccination of school children, recovering lost ground and stature as one of the top five countries with high vaccination rates in the past decades and, more important, changing the people’s mind on vaccine hesitancy.

It was significant that Sec. Herbosa stated how he has learned to ignore critics particularly the anti-vaxxers or those against vaccinations. In the same breath, Herbosa reiterated the government’s intention to launch the Bakuna Eskwela or school-based vaccination programs, including the introduction of the HPV vaccine for girls 14 years old to prevent the cancer-causing virus among females. Hopefully, Hepa-B vaccination is already in the package.

Just to cover all his bases, Sec. Herbosa said he will be working in cooperation with Sec. Sonny Angara of the DepEd and Sec. Rex Gatchalian of the DSWD through 4-Ps to maximize participation of all students, with the cooperation and permission of parents.

Sec. Herbosa even bravely spoke about dengue and the clamor of LGUs for a dengue vaccine. Instead of repeatedly delving into the past and the Dengvaxia controversy, Herbosa stated that there is a new Japanese made vaccine that is currently under study by the Food and Drug Administration, which Herbosa labeled as a “superior” vaccine.

The secretary did, however, state that dengue vaccines are only useful for people who have had prior exposure to dengue. He also said that if and when the Japanese dengue vaccine is approved, it will probably be available only to the private sector as an out-of-pocket expense and as a “physician based” vaccination.

Perhaps it would be a good idea for the good secretary to check what is the total number of Filipinos that have been bitten and infected with dengue as well as their demographics. Some estimates on google average Phl cases at 100,000-plus annually. So, in 10 years we have had at least a million dengue patients at risk of severe second dengue infection.

Whatever the science maybe, I do recall that Sec. Herbosa and many other doctors have stated that it is the second exposure to dengue that is usually the more severe, high risk and possibly fatal incidence. At the very least, we need to protect one million of them, which includes my wife!

While those in the private sector might be able to pay for the dengue vaccine, the probability is that majority of those who actually have had dengue are in the C-D-E economic level, living in depressed areas or in the provinces. Either way, we can only hope and pray that Sec. Herbosa and FDA-DG Zacate can fast-track the dengue vaccine application that was reportedly submitted to the FDA 18 months ago.

Moving on, it is remarkable and praiseworthy that Sec. Herbosa and his boss President Bongbong Marcos have taken a stand on vaccine hesitancy. This is a good first step towards promoting preventive medicine and a lifestyle of wellness among Filipinos.

While the DOH makes the push to promote vaccination, it may be worthwhile for the Department of Justice and the Department of Information and Communications Technology to collaborate and review all the claims, data and anti-vaccine information being publicly shared to counter the DOH and government’s campaign.

While we respect freedom of speech, etc., anti-vaxxers must have the same accountability as everyone else who goes on social media or traditional media. Public health is a serious concern of government and any action or information shared that may be inaccurate or outright false, unscientific or threatens public health should be acted upon by the DOJ and the DICT.

There is much ground to cover in terms of various health challenges and diseases and only by working with the different health care organizations, institutions and patients’ groups can Secretary Herbosa truly be “para all” or for all. Perhaps this is a good time for Secretary Herbosa to reconnect with his associates, especially friends who supported him when he first became secretary.

No one will tell him directly but a number of his friends and former supporters tell me that he is no longer easy to reach, even former associates during the COVID pandemic say, “Nag bago na.” Anyone who becomes a Cabinet secretary goes through such a phase or period.

I know a couple of Cabinet secretaries past and present who got too busy or cannot be reached because of all the work and responsibilities. In the end, you end up with fewer friends and even fewer supporters when the going gets rough.

The heavy workload is not an excuse. Get an assistant devoted to logging down calls and requests for appointment and review these every day. Then call back or ask someone to do so. Many CEOs and business leaders I know make time. It is required of government officials but, more importantly, common courtesy requires it, especially among “friends.”

*      *      *

E-mail: [email protected]