By Rjay Zuriaga Castor
The significantly low immunization rate of infants and children in Western Visayas received special mention in the third State of the National Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 22.
Marcos emphasized ongoing efforts to increase vaccination rates among infants and children in the region, where less than half of the target population is vaccinated.
“Tuloy-tuloy ang ating paghahabol sa pagbabakuna ng mga sanggol at mga bata lalo na sa Region 6 at Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao kung saan kulang pa sa kalahati ang nababakunahan,” he said.
Marcos referred to the routine vaccination program for infants and children aged 0-59 months in the region under the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).
The EPI aims to reduce morbidity and mortality among children by preventing common vaccine-preventable diseases.
The diseases include Bacillus Calmette-Guérin, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, Haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B, polio, measles, rubella, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, and human papillomavirus.
Data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) showed that the target population for routine immunization in the region for 2024 is 160,897.
However, only 49,191, or 30.57 percent, of the target are categorized as fully immunized children (FIC) as of June this year.
Iloilo City recorded the highest percentage of fully immunized children against its target population with a rate of 34.09 percent, followed by Iloilo province with 32.48 percent.
Other provinces, excluding Aklan and Bacolod City, reported fully immunized child rates of around 30-31 percent.
Aklan and Bacolod City had FIC rates of 24.55 percent and 23.43 percent, respectively.
Daily Guardian has reached out to the Department of Health Western Visayas (DOH-6) for an explanation regarding the low vaccination rate and a response to the president’s statement, but they have yet to respond as of writing.
In 2023, the region achieved a 61.36 percent fully immunized child rate, still below the target of 95 percent.
Iloilo City had the highest FIC rate with 70.61 percent, followed by Iloilo with 68.90 percent, Guimaras with 64.62 percent, Negros Occidental with 61.41 percent, Capiz with 60.70 percent, Antique with 59.53 percent, Aklan with 51.04 percent, and Bacolod City with 40.24 percent.
“Despite reaching over 69 percent, the target remains at 90 percent. We are encouraging our parents and children under 12 months to get vaccinated to protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases,” said IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon on Tuesday, July 23.
Figures from the DOH-6 showed that routine immunization in Western Visayas has seen a declining trend since 2020.
The immunization rate was 71.02 percent in 2020, decreased to 65.68 percent in 2021, further dropped to 59.52 percent in 2022, and slightly increased to 61.36 percent in 2023.
