PBBM directs PCO and DOH to enhance vaccination information drive

DAVAO CITY –– President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) to collaborate with the Department of Health (DOH) to strengthen the immunization information campaign for children.

During a sectoral meeting, President Marcos emphasized the importance of effective communication, directing PCO Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez to leverage social media to raise awareness.

“We need to encourage conversations around the necessity of vaccinations for children,” he stated.

He stressed the need to utilize social media.

“We have to get people to talk that they will say ‘you need this, the kids need this,” he said.

The President also highlighted the role of media in disseminating public service announcements, saying, “We should utilize all available airtime.”

According to the DOH, the coverage of fully immunized children (FIC) has been below the target of 95 percent since 2010, with only 34.7 percent fully immunized as of July 2024. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa noted that the decline in immunization rates can be attributed to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which halted school-based vaccination programs.

To address this, the DOH will launch a “Big Catch Up” campaign, featuring a nationwide “Bakuna Eskwela” initiative starting on October 7.

This campaign will provide vaccinations for measles, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria to students in Grades 1 and 7, while nine-year-old female students will receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.