Child Vaccination-BusinessWorld Online

Starting February 4, the government is stepping up preparations for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years.

This is after the government has allowed children aged 12 to 17 years to be vaccinated to protect them from serious illnesses caused by a potentially infectious and potentially deadly variant of SARS-CoV-2. That is.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children are as likely to be infected with COVID-19 as adults. Scientists also conducted clinical trials on thousands of children before vaccination recommendations for children were made, but no significant safety concerns were identified.

The CDC explained that vaccinated children can be protected from the short-term and long-term effects of COVID-19. It also helps protect families who are not yet eligible for vaccination, such as siblings under the age of five. Other potential benefits are those who, when infected, can be at very high risk of getting sick. If the vaccinated child is still infected, the vaccine can also help him or her get a serious illness.

The Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Philippine Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDSP) fully support vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years. “Cases of COVID-19 in the pediatric age group remain less severe than older people, but children can be hospitalized and may even need to be admitted to the intensive care unit,” the statement said. I am saying.

In the Philippines, about 3% of COVID-19 cases and 0.5% of mortality rates are children aged 5 to 11 years, adding that this is similar to the trend seen worldwide.

Immunization is certainly one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions known. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the provision of important medical services, including immunity to other vaccine-preventable diseases. The Omicron-led surge that the country is experiencing adds to this turmoil.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global immunization rates have fallen from 86% in 2019 to 83% in 2020. By 2020, an estimated 23 million children under the age of 1 had not been vaccinated with the basic vaccine. This is about 3.7 million more than in 2019, the highest number since 2009. By 2020, the number of fully unvaccinated children increased by 3.4 million. Only 19 vaccines were introduced in 2020, less than half of any of the last 20 years. WHO predicts that this slowdown is likely to continue as countries focus on ongoing efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the WHO, disruption of immune services as a result of a pandemic may increase the incidence of vaccine-preventable illnesses. In addition, WHO warns that if not addressed promptly, it will put additional strain on the medical system that is already overloaded with COVID-19. In addition, the potential for co-circulation of COVID-19 with influenza and other epidemic pathogens (such as scab, respiratory syncytial virus, and meningitis) could further strain the medical system in the coming months. there is.

According to data from the Ministry of Health (DoH), Japan’s immunity rate dropped from 69% in 2019 to 65% in 2020. DoH has repeatedly called on all parents to take their children to health centers in search of a free, life-saving vaccine. -A threatening illness.

To increase access to immune services in a pandemic, DoH healthcare workers are immunizing home-to-home, while others are riding tricycles and boats to children in remote areas. I am vaccinated. Community-based immunization is also being implemented in targeted, hard-to-reach communities.

Although the emphasis is on the scope of immunization in children, vaccination can also prevent the overall large number of deaths in the elderly and is essential for a healthier life. According to the Health Policy Partnership, adopting a life-course approach to immunization (vaccination at all stages of life) not only helps individuals stay healthy throughout their lives, but also enormous public health. There is also the potential for socio-economic benefits.

“Through herd immunity, widespread vaccination can reduce the incidence of illness in our society, including those who are not vaccinated. It is ourselves, such as infants and people with certain illnesses. Very important for vulnerable people who cannot be vaccinated with. High vaccination rates also help reduce dependence on antibiotics. This contributes to antibacterial drug resistance. This is 21 years. It is one of the most pressing challenges facing medical care.^st “Century” explained the Health Policy Partnership.

To support the successful implementation of life course immunity, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Associations (IFPMA) has expanded its vaccine delivery channels by governments and other stakeholders to pharmacy-based, community-based, employer-based, and home-based. It is recommended to include care. Providing base and school-based vaccinations.

Teodoro B. Padilla is the Managing Director of the Philippine Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (PHAP), which represents the biopharmacy and vaccine industry in the Philippines. Its members are at the forefront of research and development for COVID-19 and other diseases that affect Filipinos.