The Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing a nationwide catch-up immunization campaign in October to restore vaccination rates that dropped during the pandemic.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, said the pandemic caused a sharp decline in immunization rates due to the suspension of school-based vaccination and the focus on COVID-19 vaccinations.
“So we have a big catch-up to do, and we’re going to restore our previous immunization rate and strengthen the National Immunization Program,” Herbosa said.
The Health Secretary briefed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a sectoral meeting on the National Immunization Program, which covers vulnerable groups like infants, children, pregnant women, and senior citizens.
The program is guided by three laws: the Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011 (Republic Act 10152), the Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act (RA 11148), and the Expanded Senior Citizen Act (RA 9994).
Herbosa also reported that Mr. Marcos approved a total budget of P7.9 billion for vaccines, a significant increase from the previous allocation of P6.4 billion. This will support the expansion of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for nine-year-old girls to prevent cervical cancer.
The Bakuna-Eskwela campaign will start on October 7. It will provide free vaccines to Grade 1 and 7 students to catch up on missed doses and improve immunization rates.
