DOH targets 95% child vaccination rate

The Department of Health is aiming to vaccinate 95 percent of Filipino children against preventable diseases as part of efforts to achieve herd immunity.

Health Secretary Edwin Mercado said Tuesday that 66 percent of children have so far been vaccinated.

“Pero ang objective po natin ay itaas po ng 95,” Mercado said in a radio interview.

Mercado urged parents to have their children vaccinated and warned against misinformation about vaccine safety.

“Ito pong ating mga bakuna po ay safe,” he said.

“Dumaan po ‘yan sa masusing pag-aaral at dumaan po ng evaluation bago po natin hinayaang ibigay sa ating mga bata,” he added.

Mercado said vaccinated children are less likely to develop diseases such as measles and pneumonia.

“So eto po ay pwede maiwasan,” he said.

The DOH chief said he has also directed health personnel to conduct house-to-house visits, with the help of local government units, to encourage families to have their children vaccinated.