The Philippines has made progress in its immunization campaign, but still lags behind its target of vaccinating 95% of children against vaccine-preventable diseases. Health officials warn of the risks of vaccine hesitancy and urge parents to protect their children through vaccination.
The Philippines continues to lag behind its target of fully immunizing 95% of children against vaccine-preventable diseases. As of December 2024, only 61% of children under one year old have received all the required vaccines, leaving a significant number vulnerable to preventable illnesses. This information was revealed by Dr. Gerard Belimac, director of the Department of Health 's ( DOH ) Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, during the National Immunization Summit 2025.
While the country has made progress in recent years, such as reducing the number of 'zero-dose' children who have not received any vaccines and exiting the global Top 20 list of countries with the most unvaccinated children, the fully immunized rate remains below the 95% target. Dr. Belimac stressed that these numbers represent real children at risk and families facing preventable suffering. DOH Assistant Secretary Farwa Hombre emphasized that failing to reach the 95% target could lead to outbreaks of diseases that could have been eradicated through vaccination, citing polio as an example. Hombre also highlighted the challenge of vaccine hesitancy fueled by misinformation circulating on social media. She urged parents to trust the proven safety and effectiveness of vaccines, stressing that vaccination is crucial for protecting children from potentially life-threatening diseases. Despite the challenges, Hombre celebrated the significant improvements made in the Philippines' immunization campaign in 2023, acknowledging the collective effort in achieving positive results
Vaccines Immunization Philippines Health Diseases Vaccine Hesitancy Social Media DOH
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