The Pampanga provincial government is strengthening its health infrastructure and disease prevention programs by bolstering confidence in vaccines to protect children and adolescents from vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, tetanus, diphtheria, and cervical cancer.
Through the multi-sectoral efforts of the Department of Health-Central Luzon Center for Health Development, Department of Education, and Department of the Interior and Local Government, Pampanga kicked off the DOH’s “Balik Tiwala sa Bakuna” School-based Immunization program.
The event was held at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando City.
One of the consequences of declining vaccine confidence is the outbreak of measles in the Philippines, with a reported 28,362 measles cases including 389 deaths as of April this year.
In Pampanga, a total of 601 cases of measles was reported in 2018, with a morbidity rate of 14. This year, the local numbers increased to 1,615 reported cases, with 35 deaths recorded as of June 2019. Other vaccine-preventable diseases include tetanus and diphtheria.
Pampanga reported four deaths due to tetanus and one fatality caused by diphtheria in 2019.
In joining the fight to protect women from cervical cancer, in which 99 percent of cases are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), the Pampanga provincial government has also committed to broaden and increase the HPV immunization coverage among grade 4 girls aged 9 to 14 years old under the DOH SBI program for public schools.
“You know well our problem in Pampanga, cervical cancer right? Even with my children, I had them injected [with HPV vaccine]. How much does this cost? P4,000 per shot. Here, it’s free,” said Pampanga Governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda.
“At least our children will have no reason to worry anymore. We’re reaching out to you from the provincial government to please avail of the benefits of this immunization program by the DOH,” the governor added.
Although vaccine-preventable, the prevalence of cervical cancer remains alarming throughout the country. Over 7,000 new cases and close to 4,000 deaths result from the disease every year, government records show.
In an effort to reinforce the value of immunization, the Pampanga provincial government acknowledged the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach in addressing vaccine hesitancy and in rebuilding vaccine confidence.
Hence, it partnered with the DOH and key stakeholders for the “Balik Tiwala sa Bakuna” immunization program in Pampanga.
The “Balik Tiwala sa Bakuna” initiative endeavors to educate the public on the safety and efficacy of vaccines and promote disease prevention through early immunization. Prior to the kickoff, pocket forums for parents and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) officers of Magalang Elementary School, San Vicente Elementary School, San Luis Elementary School, and Florida Blanca Elementary School were organized.
“This gathering, “Balik Tiwala sa Bakuna”, is a campaign that was organized, headed by Provincial Governor Delta Pineda, with the DOH, DepEd, and DILG. It was proven that vaccines are safe and can give protection for children against vaccine-preventable diseases),” affirmed Dr. Cesar Cassion, Career Executive Service Officer IV of the DOH-Central Luzon Center for Health Development.