Responding to the need to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases amid the current pandemic, the UP College of Public Health (UP CPH) and the British Embassy Manila hosted a second webinar last October 22, 2020; as part of the series, Public Health in the Time of COVID-19 and the New Normal, aimed at frontliners and public health workers.
Spearheaded by the UP CPH Department of Medical Microbiology (DMM), the webinar titled, “Amplifying Vaccine-Preventable Disease (VPD) Control During the COVID-19 Pandemic” featured three renowned speakers and two reactors and attracted 450 attendees from the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and other countries in Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East.
The participants were welcomed by Dr. Vicente Belizario, Jr, UP CPH Dean and Centre Director of SEAMEO TROPMED Philippines, who emphasized the need to sustain vaccine-preventable disease control in the New Normal. The webinar was also graced by the presence of the Ambassador of the United Kingdom in the Philippines, His Excellency Daniel Pruce, who expressed enthusiasm on the deepening relationship between the Philippines and the United Kingdom; strengthened further by the partnership with UP CPH. He also highlighted global vaccine-related efforts that are actively supported by the United Kingdom.
Talks were delivered by Dr. Yoshihiro Takashima, Coordinator of the Expanded Programme on Immunization Unit of the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region; Dr. Lulu Bravo, Professor Emeritus of the UP College of Medicine and Executive Director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination; and Dr. Patrick Osewe, Chief of the Health Sector Group of the Asian Development Bank.
Dr. Takashima discussed the imminent threat of another measles outbreak in the coming year and how this may be averted by mass vaccination strategies especially at the community and barangay levels. He also explained the need to prepare for the impact of COVID-19 on measles control and to adopt a broader regional and global view of measles and rubella elimination.
Dr. Bravo underlined how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted essential health services in the country, especially immunization, which has posed greater health risks for VPDs. She issued a call to action and reiterated that the work is far from over. There is a need to overcome challenges in vaccine information, hesitancy, delivery, and availability in the Philippines.
Dr. Osewe demonstrated the essential role of policy and systems in implementing vaccination programs; which require better coordination in financing, regulation, manufacturing, planning, system strengthening, and vaccine delivery. He then suggested strengthening engagement in multilateral arrangements and bilateral negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. He recommended the scale-up of domestic manufacturing and the use of pooling mechanisms.
Reactions were given by Dr. Clemencia Bondoc, president of the Association of Municipal Health Officers of the Philippines and Dr. Maria Margarita Lota, UP CPH DMM chair. Dr. Bondoc contextualized the speakers’ inputs in the local health system setting and advocated for barangay- and community- level leadership in implementing vaccination campaigns. Meanwhile, Dr. Lota underscored the role of the academe in educating and advocating for vaccination programs.
After a fruitful open forum, the event ended with closing remarks from Dr. Sharon Yvette Angelina Villanueva, UP CPH College Secretary and professor at the DMM. The webinar was moderated by DMM faculty Dr. Sheriah Laine M. de Paz-Silava and the overall coordination was by CPH faculty and Special Assistant to the Dean Dr. Jaifred Lopez.
Dr. Sheriah Laine M. de Paz-Silava | Published in Healthscape Special COVID-19 Issue No. 20 (30 November 2020)
