A vaccination is a dead or weakened version of the pathogen responsible for a disease. An immunized body can build up antibodies that protect them from a disease if and when exposed to it in real-life form. An adverse event following immunization is any health condition that occurs as a result of vaccination. Most of the time, side effects of vaccines are found during clinical trials. Vaccines generally have no negative side effects on the majority of people. Most adverse effects are minor and self-resolving. Pain, swelling, chills, fatigue, headache, and muscle and joint aches are some of the most common side effects (Policy (OIDP), 2021).
Immunization is one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to enhance global health outcomes in the public health field. Measles and tetanus deaths in children have fallen dramatically due to successful national immunization campaigns, with an estimated 2–3 million deaths saved annually (Migriño et al., 2020). Most of a child's immunizations are administered between birth and age six. Some immunizations are administered multiple times, at varying ages, and in combinations (Stanford Children's Health, 2019). BCG, Hepatitis B, Pentavalent, Oral Polio, PCV, and MMR, are a few of the basic immunizations for children (Routine Immunization for Children in the Philippines, 2021).
The Philippines, an archipelago of over 7,100 islands and islets, is an island nation in Southeast Asia and the western Pacific Ocean. It has a climate marked by high humidity, high temperatures, and heavy rain. There are over 112 million people residing in the country, 30 percent of whom are children (Worldometer, 2022).
Figure 1. Child Immunization Rates in the Philippines from 2009 to 2020
Figure 1 shows the rate of immunization in children who are less than two years old from 2009 to 2020. The graph shows an exponential decline in child immunization from 2016 to 2020. The Philippines was able to vaccinate at least 90% of the children in 2016 and in 2020, only 64% of children were vaccinated before the age of two (Philippines - Immunization, BCG (% of One-Year-Old Children) - 2022 Data 2023 Forecast 1980-2020 Historical, 2020).
The Philippine government launched the National Immunization Program on July 12, 1976, with help from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The initiative ensured infants/children and mothers received routine vaccinations. Its major purpose is to reduce morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) like tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and measles. The National Immunization Program has immunized newborns, babies, older children, pregnant women, and seniors against VPDs (Department of Health Website, n.d.). Doctors advocate free vaccines for families with newborns.
In the past few years, there have been resurgences or rises in the incidence of certain vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g., measles, circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus), despite an increase in worldwide vaccination rates for specific antigens (WHO Immunization Data Portal, n.d.). The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines declared measles outbreaks in at least six regions beginning in early 2019. These regions were the Davao Region, Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas (DOH EXPANDS MEASLES OUTBREAK DECLARATION to OTHER REGIONS | Department of Health Website, 2019). The incidence rate increased by an astounding eightfold between late 2017 and 2018, and the trend continues with more measles cases reported in the first quarter of 2019 than in all of 2018 (UNICEF-WHO Philippines: Measles Outbreak, Situation Report 9, April 14, 2019 - Philippines | ReliefWeb, 2019).
A viral infection known as dengue is prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Today, it is the fastest-spreading mosquito-borne virus (World Health Organization: WHO, 2019). In November 2017, the first licensed dengue vaccination (Dengvaxia®) generated a media storm. According to research, Dengvaxia reduces the risk of severe dengue and hospitalization. Dengue-infected people were more resistant. Sanofi, the vaccine's developer, has found that Dengvaxia puts people who have never had dengue at a higher chance of having a severe version of the disease and being hospitalized than if they had never been vaccinated against dengue (Fatima & Syed, 2018). Dengue antibodies can cause an infection, unlike most. Dengue virus needs antibodies to spread. A second dengue infection, when the blood already contains antibodies, can be worse than the first and can cause plasma leakage (Doucleff, 2019). The Philippines panicked. Protests occurred. The Philippines began autopsies on children who died after receiving the vaccine and confirmed ten deaths. Filipino parents' vaccine confidence fell from 82% in 2015 to 21% in 2018. The percentage of parents who believe in vaccines has dropped from 93% to 32%. (Larson et al., 2018). The controversy that erupted in the Philippines may have contributed to a surge in measles infections in 2018, according to the Department of Health (DOH) and other studies (Department of Health, 2018; Tomacruz, 2018).
Vaccine hesitation is the unwillingness or delay in receiving viable vaccines despite low-cost immunization programs. 1.5 million children die annually from vaccine-preventable illnesses. Many individuals are afraid of vaccines' safety. In the past, media stories of a rare vaccination reaction or disease links triggered these anxieties. Parents' anxieties about their children's safety were exacerbated by rumour. Clinical research and autopsies link Dengvaxia to certain fatalities. These findings may undermine vaccination safety. Due to media publicity, they may affect other vaccination campaigns in the Philippines and other nations (News, 2018).
In my opinion, vaccines are a good investment for parents and kids. The Dengvaxia disaster changed the public's view on vaccine safety, which is valid. However, efficacy and safety of most vaccines are supported by research and trials. Antibodies against avoidable diseases can save lives and cut costs for many people. Because the Philippines is still young, it must preserve its residents' health. More children should be inoculated and vaccines must regain public trust.
References
Department of Health. (2018). DOH Identifies Vaccine Hesitancy As One Of The Reasons For Measles Outbreak | Department Of Health Website. Doh.gov.ph. https://doh.gov.ph/node/16721
Department of Health website. (n.d.). Doh.gov.ph. Retrieved July 30, 2022, from https://doh.gov.ph/health-programs/immunization-program/types-of-service
DOH EXPANDS MEASLES OUTBREAK DECLARATION TO OTHER REGIONS | Department of Health website. (2019). Doh.gov.ph. https://doh.gov.ph/node/16647
Doucleff, M. (2019). NPR Choice page. Npr.org. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/05/03/719037789/botched-vaccine-launch-has-deadly-repercussions
Fatima, K., & Syed, N. I. (2018). Dengvaxia controversy: impact on vaccine hesitancy. Journal of Global Health, 8(2), 010312. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.08-020312
Larson, H. J., Hartigan-Go, K., & de Figueiredo, A. (2018). Vaccine confidence plummets in the Philippines following dengue vaccine scare: why it matters to pandemic preparedness. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 15(3), 625–627. https://doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2018.1522468
Migriño, J., Gayados, B., Birol, K. R. J., De Jesus, L., Lopez, C. W., Mercado, W. C., Tolosa, J.-M. C., Torreda, J., & Tulagan, G. (2020). Factors affecting vaccine hesitancy among families with children 2 years old and younger in two urban communities in Manila, Philippines. Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal : WPSAR, 11(2), 20–26. https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2019.10.2.006
News, J. P., ABS-CBN. (2018, January 10). PAO sees “pattern” in deaths of 4 Dengvaxia recipients. ABS-CBN News. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/10/18/pao-sees-pattern-in-deaths-of-4-dengvaxia-recipients
Philippines - Immunization, BCG (% Of One-year-old Children) - 2022 Data 2023 Forecast 1980-2020 Historical. (2020). Tradingeconomics.com. https://tradingeconomics.com/philippines/immunization-bcg-percent-of-one-year-old-children-wb-data.html
Policy (OIDP), O. of I. D. and H. (2021, April 26). Vaccine Side Effects. HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/basics/safety/side-effects/index.html
Routine immunization for children in the Philippines. (2021, April 28). Www.unicef.org. https://www.unicef.org/philippines/stories/routine-immunization-children-philippines
Stanford Children's Health. (2019). Why childhood immunizations are important. Stanfordchildrens.org. https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=why-childhood-immunizations-are-important-1-4510
Tomacruz, S. (2018, September 27). Parents still scared of govt’s free vaccines a year after Dengvaxia scare. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/nation/212927-child-vaccination-rate-philippines-as-of-september-2018/
UNICEF-WHO Philippines: Measles Outbreak, Situation Report 9, 14 April 2019 - Philippines | ReliefWeb. (2019, April 14). Reliefweb.int. https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/unicef-who-philippines-measles-outbreak-situation-report-9-14-april-2019
WHO Immunization Data portal. (n.d.). Immunizationdata.who.int. Retrieved July 29, 2022, from https://immunizationdata.who.int/
World Health Organization: WHO. (2019, November 4). Dengue and severe dengue. Who.int; World Health Organization: WHO. https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue
Worldometer. (2019). Philippines Population (2019) - Worldometers. Worldometers.info. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/philippines-population/
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