Vaccination rate among children in R-12 low due to misinformation, disinformation

Source: MindaNews

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews / 06) - Vaccine hesitancy due to misinformation and disinformation remains a major hurdle for the health sector in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) as the region continues to lag in immunization coverage among children.

Dr. Edvir Jane Montañer, immunization program manager of the Department of Health (DOH)-Region 12, admitted that the region still has a lot of work to do to achieve the target to have 95 percent of children in the region "fully vaccinated for all routine vaccines on schedule."

The routine vaccination includes BCG for tuberculosis, hepatitis B, pentavalent for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, influenza B, oral and inactivated polio vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine for pneumonia and meningitis and the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella).

"There are a lot of challenges that were not yet addressed up to this time...there's still a lot of vaccine hesitancy due to misinformation and disinformation. There are also a lot of issues regarding cultural and religious beliefs," Montañer said in a recent press conference here.

Soccsksargen comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong and Kidapawan.

The region only posted an average of 63.32 percent immunization coverage among children from 2017 to 2022 as cited in the DOH-12's 2022 Field Health Services Information System report. In 2022, the immunization coverage only reached 55.37 percent.

Last year, DOH-12 targeted 413,479 children aged five-years-old and below in its supplemental immunization activities.

Montañer said the low immunization rate in the region was also affected by limited human resources and the vulnerable children in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

Health authorities earlier admitted that immunization coverage in the area was greatly affected by the Dengvaxia controversy, fake news and various conspiracy theories that came out during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We really need the help of the community and the media to address this problem," Montañer said.

Dr. Aristides Tan, DOH-12 director, said they are working on various collaborations with local government units (LGUs), concerned agencies and stakeholders to address the immunization gap.

The agency spearheaded a stakeholders' summit here last week to forge partnerships and gather commitments that would help elevate immunization activities in the region.

Tan said LGUs in the region have committed to pass ordinances supporting Republic Act 10152 or Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act, and adopt strategies to increase immunization coverage".

"We created a roadmap and consolidated the commitments. We're hoping to see some success in the next three to five years," he said.

DOH Undersecretary Abdullah Dumama Jr., cluster lead for Universal Health Care- Health Services Cluster Area IV (Mindanao), said they are hoping that the LGUs can help fill the gap in terms of human resources.

He assured that the agency is on top of the situation and has been working on various strategies to increase the immunization coverage in the entire country.

Dumama said the DOH central office has already created additional bids and awards committees to fast track the procurement of the needed vaccines.

"We have been also coordinating with various partners like the UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and other suppliers to ensure the availability of vaccine supplies," he added. (Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)