Dr. Carla Orozco, a UNICEF health specialist, called for a government-led investigation into the factors contributing to vaccine hesitancy in the Philippines.
She emphasized that identifying the root causes of this issue is crucial in developing effective strategies to address the decline in the perceived significance of vaccinations for Filipino children.
“Before we can address it, kailangan we have to dig deep first or investigate on the causes of vaccine hesitancy, kasi ito ba ay because of cultural issues, religious issues, or mayroon bang lingering rumor or misinformation sa community or sa isang province,” she said.
“Aside from those reasons, is it an issue of malayo kasi ang health center gusto naman sana nila magpabakuna ang layo ng health center so they are hesitant to go there to have their children vaccinated? So it can be also an issue of access and baka poverty wala silang pamasahe and all,” she added.
It has been reported by UNICEF that there was a 25% decline in the perception of the significance of vaccines for children in the Philippines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Philippines has one million zero dose children, the second highest in East Asia and the Pacific Region, and the fifth highest globally,” UNICEF reported.
Probe on high vaccine hesitancy in PH sought
During the period from 2019 to 2021, at least 67 million children worldwide did not receive vaccinations, and vaccination coverage rates decreased in 112 countries.
Dr. Orozco emphasized that the Department of Health (DOH) can aid the community by implementing interventions and programs based on the specific reasons or situations within a community.
Additionally, she stressed the importance of training and empowering healthcare workers and community volunteers with accurate information to persuade residents to prioritize immunization.
“Yung vaccine hesitancy, hindi lang because of misinformation and rumors, but also the problem in access so kailangan din magtulung-tulungan. The government and [other] partners, [must] improve access so that would mean investing in additional human resources lalo na sa malalayo and even in urban poor communities. It is also surprising minsan kulang din ‘yung access nila, so increase human resource and immunization sessions,” she added.
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