Vaccines are one of the advances of modern medicine that save millions of lives, especially children’s. However, there are also millions of children today who do not get the vaccines they need. So, World Immunization Week is celebrated annually on 24-30 April to promote the use of vaccines to protect people all over the globe against diseases and ultimately, promote life. It also aims to increase awareness of the importance of immunization to mothers and caregivers.
The 2021 World Immunization Week theme, “Vaccines bring us closer” shows how vaccines connect everyone. The unified efforts of the government, partners and individuals will improve the health of all, everywhere, throughout life.
This years’ campaign calls the government to build a resilient immunization system and increase vaccination coverage rates to ensure that more lives are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. Likewise, it appeals to the people to have confidence and trust in the vaccines and support the campaign on immunization awareness.
In 1976, the Department of Health (DOH) established the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to ensure that the mothers/caregivers and infants/children have access to the routine vaccination. Further, former President Benigno Aquino III signed the Republic Act 10152 or known as the “Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011” that mandates the inclusion of the basic immunization for under-five years old children.
Vaccines are bringing us closer to tuberculosis, Hepatitis-B, measles, and polio-free communities. However, due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), many children had not been vaccinated, making them more susceptible to diseases like measles and polio. Besides, the circulating misinformation about vaccination increases the threat to repel immunization activities.
In the DOH, World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Joint Media Release last 24 April 2021, Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative said, “It is important that we use our gains from the recent immunization campaigns – investments in building health workers’ capacity, strengthened collaborations within and beyond the health sector, increased local government ownership – as fresh foundation for a stronger immunization program and for the restoration of immunization uptake that has been impacted by the pandemic.”
Over the years, vaccines had helped us keep our families and community safe against diseases. And in this time of pandemic, let us all continue protecting everyone against all forms of vaccine-preventable diseases. Take a stand, be involved and support this lifesaving cause for a healthier generation. (NO II Arlie Joy O. Damiles)
Reference:
World Health Organization. April 2021. World Immunization Week 2021 - Vaccines bring us closer. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/events/detail/2021/04/24/default-calendar/world-immunization-week-2021
WORLD IMMUNIZATION WEEK 2021 Vaccines Bring Us Closer. Retrieved from https://www.worldimmunizationweek.org/
Department of Health. 24 April 2021. Vaccines Bring Us Closer: Philippines Celebrates World Immunization Week to Honor the Importance of Life-Saving Vaccinations. Retrieved from https://doh.gov.ph/press-release/Vaccines-bring-us-closer-Philippines-celebrates-World-Immunization-Week-to-honor-the-importance-of-life-saving-vaccinations
