More than P590 million for the government’s vaccination program was wasted in 2025. Senate President Win Gatchalian flagged this during the Senate Committee on Finance’s hearing on the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Health (DOH) and its attached agencies.
Citing data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), Gatchalian emphasized that 62.41%, or P4.93 billion, of the P7.9 billion allotted for the National Immunization Program (NIP) in 2025 was for the seven vaccines needed in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
The wastage rate of these vaccines for children’s first 1,000 days has a corresponding value of approximately P590.3 million for fiscal year 2025. That same year, however, immunization coverage reached only 65%.
“Kung naibigay sana natin ang mga bakuna na may halagang kalahating bilyon sa mga bata, baka 70% o 80% na sa kanila ang nabakunahan natin,” Gatchalian said.
Secretary of Health Edwin Mercado assured the Senate finance panel that they will be utilizing the PhiHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) clinics to increase the vaccination rate.
Gatchalian: Mahigit P590-Milyon Nasayang sa Vaccination Program
Mahigit P590 milyon na pondo para sa vaccination program ng gobyerno ang nasayang noong 2025. Pinuna ito ni Senate President Win Gatchalian sa pagdinig ng Senate Committee on Finance sa panukalang 2027 budget ng Department of Health (DOH) at mga kalakip nitong ahensya.
Gamit ang datos mula sa Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), binigyang-diin ni Gatchalian na 62.41%, o P4.93 billion, ng P7.9 billion na inilaan para sa National Immunization Program (NIP) noong 2025 ang nakalaan para sa pitong bakunang kailangan sa first 1,000 days o unang 1,000 araw ng buhay ng isang bata.
Umabot sa tinatayang P590.3 milyon ang halaga ng nasayang na mga bakunang ito para sa first 1,000 days ng mga bata noong taong 2025. Ngunit noong taon ding iyon, 65% lamang ang immunization coverage o ang porsyento ng mga batang nabakunahan.
“Kung naibigay sana natin ang mga bakuna na may halagang kalahating bilyon sa mga bata, baka 70% o 80% na sa kanila ang nabakunahan natin,” ani Gatchalian.
Tiniyak naman ni Secretary of Health Edwin Mercado na gagamitin nila ang Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) clinics ng PhilHealth para mapataas ang vaccination rate.
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Photo by Mark Cayabyab / OSP WIN GATCHALIAN
