It helps if healthcare workers have conversations with parents about vaccines to boost their confidence in them and eliminate vaccine hesitancy for their children, an officer of the United Nations Children鈥檚 Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday, April 3, 2025. 黑料社 stock photo\
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� It helps if healthcare workers have conversations with parents about vaccines to boost their confidence in them and eliminate vaccine hesitancy for their children, an officer of the United Nations Children鈥檚 Fund (UNICEF) said on Thursday.
Dr. Madonna A帽abienza, UNICEF Immunization Officer, said that it is important to identify the reasons why parents don鈥檛 want their children to be vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases.
READ: Parents urged to ditch vaccine hesitancy amid rising pertussis cases
While handing out flyers or radio and television programs producing shows or announcements on the effectiveness of vaccines can be helpful, they may not be able to address a specific concern of parents, she said.
鈥淜ung mayroon siyang specific issue o concern, hindi siya maaaddress kaya gusto pa rin namin, conversation kung mababa yung vaccine confidence at may hesitancy talaga,鈥� A帽abieza said in her presentation in a media conference of the Department of Health in Bataan.
(If they have a specific issue or concern, this would not be addressed, that鈥檚 why we want conversation if the vaccine confidence is low and if there is hesitancy.)
She noted that complacency, inconvenience, inaccessibility of getting vaccines, and low vaccine confidence all contribute to vaccine hesitancy of parents for their children.
A帽abieza also said that low vaccine confidence can be factored in rumors and misinformation, what people hear and see, previous vaccination experience, trust in government, and political environment or events.
She shared narratives of the agency鈥檚 social mobilizing where they visit parents and children from different areas to assess the vaccination status.
A帽abieza聽 said that due to personal conversations with parents, they were able to find out why they refused to have their children vaccinated.
Meanwhile, she shared that partial and unofficial data of DOH on the National Fully Immunized Child (FIC) coverage in 2024 stood at 64.47%, which is a 2.13% increase from 2023鈥檚 FIC data.
A帽abieza added that seven out of 17 regions surpassed the National FIC coverage, with Caraga region (79.92%); National Capital Region (77.77%); and Central Luzon (76.04%) reported as the top three regions with highest coverage.
READ: 68% of German measles cases in PH are unvaccinated 鈥� DOH
Approach to effective conversation
A帽abieza said that achieving effective conversation to obtain high vaccine confidence lies in proper training from barangay healthcare workers to doctors.
鈥淒ahil ang pakikipag-usap, kung kailangan ng conversation, kailangan madevelop ang soft skills ng lahat, especially ng health workers,鈥� she said.
(Because in conversation, everyone鈥檚 soft skills, especially healthcare workers, need to be developed.)
鈥溾�榊ung interpersonal communication and counseling kasi depende yan sa kung ano yung issue o concern ng isang parent or caregiver. Doon ka muna magzezero in. kasi minsan, iba iba naman yan sila,鈥� she added.
(The interpersonal communication and counseling depends on the issue or concern of a parent or a caregiver. We will zero in there, because it differs sometimes.)
She also pointed out that aside from personal conversations, support from the whole community planning support, raising of awareness on vaccination, and mobilizing young people are important to boost vaccine confidence.