BDH Promotes Restoration of Trust in Vaccination
By: Melanie Holt Photo By: GPC-BDH Date: April 23, 2019
RESTORING TRUST IN VACCINATION. In observance of World Immunization Week, Dr. Jennifer C. Gamiao, pediatrician, together with Dr, Zenserly D. Pagaduan, Chief of Bacnotan District Hospital (BDH) educate expectant mothers about the benefits of immunizing their children during their pre-natal check-up at the out-patient department BDH, Bacnotan, La Union on April 23, 2019.
“Do not be afraid of having your babies and children get vaccinated because these vaccines have long been used and proven safe and effective by the government,” said Dr. Jennifer C. Gamiao, pediatrician, together with Dr, Zenserly D. Pagaduan, Chief of Bacnotan District Hospital (BDH) as they educated expectant mothers about the benefits of immunizing their children during their pre-natal check-up at the out-patient department, Bacnotan, La Union on April 23, 2019 in observance of the World Immunization Week.
In her lecture, Dr. Gamiao emphasized from the World Health Organization that vaccination or immunization is a proven way to prevent and eliminate life-threatening infectious diseases around the world. Furthermore, she said that “a vaccinated person becomes immune or resistant to an infectious disease because vaccines stimulate the body’s own immune system to give optimal protection against infections.”
She mentioned that babies and infants are more at risk to infectious diseases and in order to keep them healthy in their early stages of life, it is crucial to protect them through immunization. Furthermore, it is mentioned that through immunization, the Philippines has sustained its polio-free status since October 2000; while the country is still eliminating measles infection and maternal and neonatal tetanus.
She assured the mothers that high public awareness, trust, and confidence on immunization is indispensable in the total eradication of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. She added that aside from the prevention of diseases, disabilities and deaths, immunization also contributes to economic growth and helps remove the burden both from the health system and most especially from the poorest of families.
In 2011, through Republic Act 10152 also known as “The Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011,” it was stated that the mandatory basic immunization for vaccine-preventable diseases shall be given for free at any government hospital or health center to infant and children up to five years old. The mandatory basic immunization (from birth to one year old) included in the National Immunization Program (NIP) now covers the basic six in the EPI with the addition of mumps; rubella or German measles; hepatitis B; and Hemophilus influenza type B (HIB).
This year, the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) together with the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV) developed an annual schedule which indicates the recommended vaccines for children and adolescents called the 2019 Childhood Immunization Schedule (from birth to 18 years old) for the Philippines.
The schedule contains 13 vaccinations which cover those included in the NIP with the addition of pneumococcal infections, rotavirus infections, influenza, Japanese encephalitis, chickenpox, hepatitis A, and human papillomavirus (HPV).
Being a member of the PPS,Dr. Gamiao mentioned the “Save the Future” movement to restore the public’s confidence and trust in vaccination, alongside the release of the national childhood immunization schedule.#
