Ms. Amor Maclang (center), co-founder of the Vaccine Solidarity Movement, facilitates the discussion on vaccine hesitancy with key figures from the medical community including UP CPH/TROPMED Philippines Dean/Centre Director Vicente Y. Belizario Jr. (top right).

As the country aims for adequate vaccine coverage for the Philippine population, it faces yet another hurdle – vaccine hesitancy. To address the persisting reluctance in availing of the COVID-19 vaccine, a webinar entitled “End the COVID-19 Pandemic Through Vaccination Now” was held on 23 August by the Vaccine Solidarity Movement (VSM), an alliance of health-oriented professional and civic organizations.

The VSM encourages the public to trust in vaccines and do its part in contributing to herd immunity towards increasing the COVID-19 vaccine uptake to over 90%. The webinar featured key officials from the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV), Philippine Nurses Association, Association of Allied Health Organizations of the Nation, Philippine Pharmacists Association, Philippine Dental Association, and the UP College of Public Health.

Dr. Lulu Bravo, Professor Emeritus of the UP College of Medicine and Executive Director of the PFV, shared the many benefits of vaccines; particularly its role in increasing life expectancy and reducing child mortality over the decades. However, misinformation sets back the nation’s progress against infectious diseases.

As a result, Dr. Benito Atienza, President of the PMA advised the public to listen to infectious disease and public health experts rather than those spreading unverified claims.

To directly address growing misinformation on vaccine safety and efficacy, UP CPH Dean Vicente Belizario Jr. strongly called on the media for more responsible public health journalism. He affirmed that effective health communication is vital in promoting vaccine literacy, while acknowledging that with the rise of misinformation in the digital age, the public needs to remain cautious against unverified claims from individuals speaking on their own accord.

Ana Margarita Parco (CPH) 

Published in UP Manila Healthscape Issue No. 32, 31 October 2021