30/04/2025
๐๐ข๐-๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฆ ๐ช๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ก๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก ๐ช๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐๐ ๐ข๐ก๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐จ๐
The Department of Health - Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) successfully held another online lay forum on April 30, 2025, in celebration of the World Immunization Week. The event brought together various public healthcare workers across the National Capital Region (NCR), community leaders, and other stakeholders to further raise awareness about the importance of immunization in protecting individuals and communities from vaccine-preventable diseases.
With the theme โMagpabakuna. Bakuna sa lahat, kayang-kaya,โ the forum conveyed a strong message encouraging everyone to get vaccinated, emphasizing the accessibility of vaccines for everyone and instilling confidence in the communityโs ability to achieve widespread immunization towards herd immunity.
The program featured a series of informative sessions, starting with an opening message from MMCHD OIC-Assistant Regional Director Karen B. Fernandez. In her message, she underscored the critical role of immunization in preventing outbreaks of diseases. She emphasized, โSa pamamagitan ng lay forum na ito, layon natin na ipalaganap ang mga tamang impormasyon, sugpuin ang mga maling paniniwala, at himukin ang bawat isa na maging bahagi ng ating misyon na tangkilikin at suportahan ang pagbabakuna sa ating komunidad.โ
Key speakers included Dr. Lulu Bravo of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination where she discussed key information and understanding about vaccines; Dr. Jennifer Lou Lorico - De Guzman, National Immunization Program (NIP) Coordinator for Taguig City where she highlighted their best practices in advocating immunization particularly in the marginalized groups; Mr. Jason Roque from the Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) of the DOH-Central Office explained the immunization campaigns as one of the cornerstones of the 8-Point Action Agenda, various perspectives of immunization and the importance of continuing the drive to combat vaccine hesitancy due to misinformation and distrust.
The event concluded with a unified call to action from Dr. Janice Kathleen R. Malesido, Chief, Local Health Support Division, urging everyone to take charge of their health and to encourage their respective communities for continuing support in various immunization activities that are being launched by the DOH.
