Experts cite importance of pediatric vaccines
AS the country celebrates in November the 5th anniversary of the enactment of Republic Act 11146 or the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act or First 1000 Days Law,” experts cited anew the importance of vaccination during a child’s first 1,000 days,
This would give them optimum protection against communicable vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) during the pivotal stage of their development.
Dr. Fatima Gimenez, immunization committee chairperson of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS), explained that the first 1,000 days of life is a “critical window of opportunity where decisions and actions during this period could cause irreversible damage to a child’s life.”
“Immunization should be done before the child is exposed to viruses and bacteria that cause VPDs,” she said.
Gimenez said this is why immunization is a critical strategy to prevent outbreaks of diseases.
According to PPS’s 2022 Childhood Immunization Schedule, 14 out of the 15 recommended childhood immunizations should be administered within the first 1000 days of life.
These include recommended vaccines such as Bacilli Calmette-Guerin (BCG); Hep B; DTwP-Hib-HepB and other DTaP combinations; IPV; OPV/IPV;
Pneumococcal Conjugate; Rotavirus; Influenza; Japanese Encephalitis; Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR); Varicella; Inactivated Hep A; and Live
Hep A. HPV is recommended for vaccination at age 9.
“Because of the pandemic, many infants missed their scheduled vaccinations either due to the physical lockdowns, fears of acquiring COVID-19, or socio-economic constraints. Incomplete vaccination makes them vulnerable to complications brought about by diseases that may even lead to death. Now that the COVID-19 health emergency has been lifted, all the more that we should intensify immunization in the first 1000 days for all newborns to be protected from communicable VPDs as the world goes back to pre-pandemic normal, and for those who missed their vaccinations to catch up on immunizations,” stressed
Gimenez.
Dr. Vicente Belizario, former dean and active professor at the UP College of Public Health, observed that while the Philippine government has an immunization strategy in place, there is a need to enhance
