Regaining Public Trust: Achieving Longer and Healthier Lives through Immunization

The recent measles outbreak in five regions in the Philippines caused apprehension not only on government health agencies but more so on the general public. According to the data published by the Philippine Department of Health, 25,676 measles cases including 355 deaths were officially reported through the routine surveillance system from 1 January to 26 March 2019. This is a 378% increase compared to the same period in 2018. Such epidemic outbreaks were caused by multiple factors including, low immunization coverage among Filipinos, inadequate service delivery particularly in rural areas of the country, and disturbingly, misinformation carried out by various media.

The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines recognizes the value of a healthy population. The private sector through the Chamber continuously supports government health programs and initiatives that aspire for inclusive growth. In line with this, the Healthcare and Wellness committee is organizing a meeting entitled, Regaining Public Trust: Achieving Longer and Healthier Lives through Immunization on 29 April 2019, 12:00nn-2:00pm at the AMCHAM Hall.

The committee meeting provides a platform for the public and private sectors, key stakeholders, patient groups, and industry associations to discuss issues that affect the sector. It is also a venue to share solutions and best practices to combat misinformation and improve public understanding of the critical importance and safety of immunization and vaccine.