DOH-6 Eyes Full Immunization of 93,175 Infants in 2025

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD) aims to fully immunize 93,175 eligible infants aged 0 to 12 months in 2025.

The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen child immunization and prevent vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs).

Despite year-on-year improvements, the region remains below the 95% national immunization target.

Data from DOH WV CHD show that Fully Immunized Child (FIC) coverage increased to 65.82% or 105,903 infants in 2024, up from 61.36% or 98,795 infants in 2023.

Iloilo recorded the highest FIC coverage at 73.53% in 2024, followed by Iloilo City (71.49%), Guimaras (67.51%), Capiz (66.15%), and Antique (66.04%).

Negros Occidental posted 64.38%, while Aklan reported 60.02%.

Bacolod City had the lowest FIC rate at 46.7%.

Despite Iloilo’s leading immunization rate, health officials acknowledge persistent challenges in reaching the 95% target.

Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office, cited geographic barriers, vaccine hesitancy, and a declining birth rate as key obstacles.

She explained that Iloilo’s high projected child population and the rising contraceptive prevalence rate, which contributes to fewer births, make percentage-based targets harder to achieve.

While vaccine hesitancy has declined, some parents remain reluctant due to personal beliefs.

Quiñon also noted that remote areas present logistical difficulties for healthcare workers.

To address these challenges, the provincial health office continues to urge parents to bring their children to the nearest barangay health station for routine immunization.

Healthcare workers are also encouraged to conduct scheduled vaccination drives in hard-to-reach but accessible areas.

MEASLES CASES ON THE RISE

At the same time, health authorities are responding to a sharp rise in suspected measles cases in the first quarter of 2025.

DOH WV CHD recorded 85 suspected measles cases, a 183% increase from the 30 cases reported during the same period in 2024.

“Parents and caregivers should always be proactive, as measles is a vaccine-preventable disease,” DOH WV CHD said in an interview with Daily Guardian.

“Vaccination, along with proper handwashing and maintaining safe distance, should be consistently practiced to protect children from various VPDs,” the agency added.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease spread through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing.

It can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and blindness, particularly in young children and immunocompromised individuals.

Symptoms typically appear 10 to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, conjunctivitis, and Koplik’s spots, followed by a distinct red rash that spreads across the body.

A fully immunized child is defined as one who has received one dose of the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine for tuberculosis; three doses of the pentavalent vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type B, and hepatitis B; three doses of the oral polio vaccine (OPV); and two doses of a measles-containing vaccine by 12 months of age.