CORDILLERA – The Department of Health in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) is aiming to vaccinate approximately 163,000 children aged zero to five to boost the region's immunization rates, which fell short of national targets last year.
According to Philippines news Agency, medical officer III and the National Immunization Program coordinator, during a briefing at the DOH-CAR regional training center, the region recorded a 65.03 percent immunization rate in 2023, significantly lower than the 95 percent national goal. To address this shortfall, the DOH and local government units are intensifying efforts to locate and vaccinate children who have been missed in past campaigns. Castro emphasized the importance of having accurate data to enhance decision-making and effectively reach more children.
The department is also working on improving cooperation with private health practitioners through Project SHIELD (Strategic Health Integration for Enhanced Child Immunization or Shield Initiative), which began earlier this year. This initiative aims to promote inclusive collaboration and enhance immunization data integration for more accurate coverage figures. Dr. Janice Bugtong, DOH-CAR assistant regional director, announced that the agreement for the SHIELD Initiative is set to be signed this month and implemented in August.
Castro also mentioned an upcoming memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Pediatrics Society in the Cordillera, which is designed to provide guidelines and address concerns about data privacy among private practicing pediatricians. This agreement is part of a broader effort to bridge gaps in immunization coverage and determine whether unimmunized children in the region are truly unreachable by health services or have already received vaccines from private doctors.
Immunization remains a top priority for DOH-CAR, reflecting its commitment to ensuring healthy communities throughout the Cordillera region.