Medical science has advanced tremendously over the years and children can be protected against more diseases than before. One of the most successful advancements of medical science has been in immunizing children through vaccinations.
However, if not treated, vaccine-preventable diseases can result in protracted disabilities, high medical bills or long-term disability care, exponentially increasing financial burden on a family.
In 2012, the Philippines became the first country in Southeast Asia to introduce a vaccine against rotavirus, a great achievement in the country’s effort to combat diarrheal diseases.
We focused initially on immunizing children living in the poorest communities, where there exists the highest child morbidity and mortality rates from diarrheal disease. The Philippines’ actions have encouraged our neighbors Indonesia to consider introducing the rotavirus vaccine too.
Rotavirus is a leading killer of Filipino children under age five, taking lives of thousands each year. It can weaken their immune system and slow their growth, affecting their ability to attend school and lead normal, productive lives. Along with this, rotavirus is known to cause repeated episodes of diarrhea. The consequence: increased susceptibility to pneumonia, an acute respiratory infection that can be fatal.
Immunizations, in such cases, can save your family time and money and strengthen the overall health of a nation. Thus it is imperative that every child and infant in the Philippines has access to it.
The vaccine was introduce here in 2012, but is currently only available to infants who qualify under the National Housing Targeting System for Poverty Reduction and further excludes those who cannot get access to private facilities.
The good news is that effective rotavirus vaccines are available. Global health experts, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have recommended that all countries include rotavirus vaccines in their national immunization programs. While more than 80 countries have done so, a few – including the Philippines – have only introduced the vaccine at a sub-national level. In these countries, the vaccine is only available to some children.
To lower the cost of providing the vaccine through the National Immunization Program, allowing for it to be expanded to all children, government should explore different models for purchasing the current vaccine and continue to support the research and development of new, more affordable products.
This year, it’s unconscionable that children are still suffering from diseases we have the knowledge and tools to prevent. Through a collaborative initiative with the government, we can take the health of our children back to our own hands.
ROTA Council recommendations
The ROTA Council, a global body of scientific experts on rotavirus, strongly agrees with the WHO recommendation. It recommends that the key stakeholders in countries where these vaccines have not yet been introduced – or have only been introduce in some states or populations – take action in the following areas:
- Countries collaborate with non-governmental agencies (WHO, UNICEF) to develop a set of comprehensive initiatives to reduce diarrhea related illness and death, compliant with the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhea.
- National governments and funding agencies should continue to support the researchand development of new, low-cost rotavirus vaccines that are also safe and efficacious.
- Global health entities and non-governmental organizations influential in vaccine programs should focus on regulating prices and ensuring affordability towards the individual country’s ability to pay.
- National government, global health entities, funding agencies, manufacturers, and other stakeholders should address supply shortages, volume of administration and storage, delivery and storage systems, safety concerns, and cultural sensitivity in low- and middle-income countries. Additional mechanisms may be needed to provide innovative funding options for low-middle income, non-Gavi eligible countries
The Philippines has already made history in Southeast Asia by being the forst to introduce the rotavirus vaccine. We hope that the new government under the leadership of President Duterte takes imminent steps to expedite the immunization program and ensure that health care reaches all children, adequately and effectively.
source: Philippine Star
Health & Medicine
