Vaccines have had听a听significant positive impact on human health.听Their administration听has led to a drop听in the incidence of听vaccine-preventable diseases听that were historically fatal to millions. During the COVID-19 outbreak, the world was reminded of the听vital听role that a single vaccine plays听not just for one鈥檚听health听but听for听the well-being of populations around the globe.
鈥淐OVID-19 vaccines are one of the most incredible medical advances in history.听Unfortunately, many people do not appreciate the level of importance of vaccines. These vaccines will be the solution, the way for us to end this current pandemic,鈥澨齭aid Dr. Melvin听Sanicas, Infectious Diseases Global Health Specialist and Ten Outstanding Young Men 2021 Awardee.
This year鈥檚 World Immunization Week theme,听鈥淟ong Life for All,鈥澨齢ighlights that we have a part听in promoting听the use of all available vaccines to听help听protect people of all ages against disease.
In line with this year鈥檚 theme of听鈥楲ong Life for All,鈥櫶齮he听ImMUnity听Team of the Mu Sigma Phi Medical Sorority, University of the Philippines-Manila College of Medicine(UPCM),听held a webinar entitled听ImMUnization: A Passport to Longevity. This brought focus on the relevance of immunization through the ages and for all ages. The event was organized听bythe UP Philippine General Hospital (PGH), the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, the Mu Sigma Phi Foundation, and health care company MSD in the Philippines.
Keeping its commitment听to听promoting听vaccine confidencealongside the health community, MSD actively engages in multi-stakeholder collaborations, such as the advocacy partnership with UPCM 鈥� Mu Sigma Phi Medical Sorority, Inc., to address the challenges of vaccine hesitancy and emphasize the importance of a life-course vaccination. MSD听also听supports campaigns that aim to听enhance听vaccine confidence by communicating the value of immunization in听helping save听lives and preventing vaccine-preventable diseases and outbreaks.
A life-course approach to immunization
Vaccination programs often focus on听distinct听life stages, such as childhood听immunization, but evidence supports a life-course approach where vaccination is given throughout听an individual鈥檚 life. The life-course approach to vaccination stems from the simple fact that the risk of infectious diseases extends far beyond childhood and into old age. With this life-course vaccine approach,听not only individuals will reap the benefits, but it will also have a favorable impact on听public health and socioeconomics.
The听National Immunization Program (NIP) of the Department of Health aims to provide听Filipinos听access to routinely recommended听vaccines.听It also听aims to听help听reduce the morbidity and mortality among children against the most common vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) like听tuberculosis,听poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and measles. The program currently听provides vaccines against VPDs for newborns, infants, older children, pregnant听women, and senior citizens.
The government鈥檚 vaccination services are set to continue with adaptive guidelines to听help听protect vulnerable age groups like senior citizens, who are more prone to acquiring pneumococcal diseases. It is also stipulated under RA 9994 or the听鈥淓xpanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010鈥澨齮hat indigent senior citizens are entitled to free vaccinations for pneumonia and influenza.
鈥淧lease听ensure children have the right vaccination听because they听are our future.听Let鈥檚 give them听a听long听and fruitful听life in a country where听vaccination is at the forefront of our health delivery system in previous years,鈥澨齈hilippine Foundation for Vaccination Executive Director Dr. Lulu Bravo emphasized.
Vaccine matters
Despite the evidence of health gains from immunization programs,听some groups have always resisted vaccines. Dr. Bravohoped to address this听by听highlighting听the importance of vaccines and听sharing听practical tips on how to deal with vaccine hesitancy.
鈥淰accines do not kill. Misinformation and disinformation kill,鈥滵r. Bravo emphasized. She听stressed听that communication plays an听essential听role in fighting vaccine hesitancy and relaying the message about how vaccines听work for our health and the community.
Building vaccine confidence and a more resilient health system require addressing the stigma surrounding vaccination, which prohibits many people from getting the vaccinations that will听help听protect them against听vaccine-preventable听diseases.
鈥淓ngage with the hesitant people. There is no single solution. We must understand their motivation. People need to be listened to,听and vaccination framed in听a听way that it matters to them,鈥澨齭he encouraged.听鈥淵ou can help by positively shaping public perception of听the benefits of immunization. Increase awareness of the burden of diseases in life and the economy. Dispel myths and rumors on immunization.鈥�
The听Mu Sigma Phi Medical Sorority听(MSPS)听also helped spur awareness about the benefits of vaccines through a social media campaign听on TikTok.听鈥淪ocial media is an important tool in our arsenal to educate and urge Filipinos, especially the youth, about vaccination. Through this campaign, we hoped to engage them in this popular platform and emphasize how vaccines help save lives,鈥澨齭hared Ron Villas, MSPS Service Committee Chairperson.
Meanwhile, Dr. Beverly Ho, Director IV of the Department of Health, Health Promotion Bureau,听enumerated the government鈥檚 programs and campaigns to promote acceptance and usage of vaccines.听鈥淰accines听may offer听protection from vaccine-preventable diseases across life stages.听Among the vaccines provided for free under the National Immunization program include vaccines against听tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, polio, pneumonia, measles,听mumps,听and rubella.
Dr.听Ho underscored that routine immunization is the foundation for strong, resilient health systems and universal health coverage.听鈥淗owever, we also want to inform the public that routine immunization is only a part of the overall health program of the government,听and there is still a need for regular consultations at your local health centers.鈥�
Dr. Ho further emphasized that听鈥渋mmunization is just one of the basic health services that听infants,听children, teenagers, women, and senior citizens need,听and part of the department鈥檚 catch-up immunization program is to vaccinate at least 80% of the remaining 1,100,000 infants who missed their routine immunization听in听2021听due the pandemic.鈥�
Having a resilient and sustainable immunization system depends on building vaccine confidence. Hence, stronger collaboration among stakeholders plays a crucial role in raising awareness about how vaccines may help protect oneself, one鈥檚 family, and the community from vaccine-preventable diseases, as well as emphasizing vaccines鈥� importance at all stages in the pursuit of building a healthy citizenry.
ADVT