San Enrique, Cabatuan Top Iloilo Immunization Coverage

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The towns of San Enrique and Cabatuan have emerged as the top-performing municipalities in Iloilo province in fully immunizing children under the routine immunization program, which aims to prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

San Enrique posted a 105.44% immunization rate, with 834 children fully immunized out of an eligible population of 791.

Cabatuan followed with a 98.66% coverage, immunizing 1,033 children from a target of 1,047.

Barotac Viejo came next with 97.24%, or 1,094 fully immunized children, followed by Tigbauan with 96.40% (1,205 children) and Miagao with 95.50% (1,210 children).

The Department of Health defines a fully immunized child (FIC) as a child below one year old who has received one dose of the Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine for tuberculosis, three doses of oral polio vaccine, three doses of pentavalent vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib, hepatitis B), and two doses of a measles-containing vaccine.

“Despite the challenges in implementing the National Immunization Program, these towns reached the FIC target through exemplary practices,” said Iloilo Provincial Health Office head Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.

These five towns are the only ones in the province to meet or exceed the DOH’s target of 95% FIC coverage.

Colmenares-Quiñon credited strong leadership and governance by local government units as key to their success.

“Our local chief executives were actively engaged in this program, enabling them to provide the necessary financial, logistical, and human resource support,” she said.

She added that local support helped mobilize immunization stakeholders and empowered parents to have their children vaccinated.

Immunization workers were also able to implement the program effectively due to additional budget allocations from LGUs.

These funds allowed the procurement of extra vaccine supplies, which were sometimes insufficient from the DOH and the IPHO.

Colmenares-Quiñon highlighted the importance of effective risk communication and building vaccine confidence to increase immunization coverage.

She said regular immunization schedules, including operations on holidays, encouraged more parental participation.

Several towns lagged behind, including Estancia with 44.22% coverage (532 of 1,203 eligible children), Alimodian with 47.26% (345 of 730), Leon with 55.20% (478 of 866), and Badiangan with 52.27% (242 of 463).

Colmenares-Quiñon said some LGUs struggled with high projected vaccination populations from DOH and logistical barriers in reaching remote areas.

The IPHO reported that Iloilo leads the region with a 73.53% FIC coverage.

However, Colmenares-Quiñon said the province still falls short of the DOH’s national target.

The IPHO noted fluctuating coverage rates in recent years – 74% in 2020, 70% in 2021, 63% in 2022, 69% in 2023, and 74% again in 2024.