The Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Bicol (DOH-CHD-5) and various national and local government agencies are working together to achieve herd immunity for children’s immunization programs in the region this year.

During a consultative meeting on Wednesday, Dr. Desiree A. Bricenio, DOH-CHD-5 immunization program manager, said both regional and local government agencies here pledged support to achieve 95 percent routine immunization coverage for children.

“Our goal for this inter-agency consultative meeting is to renew the support of our stakeholders in all immunization services, particularly the routine vaccines for the children in the region from zero to 12 months old,” Bricenio said.

She noted that the region achieved only 51.3 percent coverage in the past, which is lower than the target for herd immunity.

According to DOH-CHD-5, several challenges prevented them from meeting the 95 percent target. These included problems such as difficulty accessing services, delays in the delivery of supplies, insufficient budget allocation, and failed procurements.

On the demand side, delayed data recording and reporting, misinformation, lack of awareness, and delayed communication of guidelines were also factors that contributed to the challenge.

According to DOH-CHD-5, a child is considered fully immunized if they have been administered the following vaccines from birth up to 12 months old: a Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination, three doses of pentavalent vaccine (DPT-HIB-Hepa B) vaccine, three doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), and two doses of measles-containing vaccine. (PNA)