The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) Global Council acknowledged the Philippines, through the Department of Health (DOH), as its next President for this year until 2027 during the group’s Global Council Meeting last April 28 in Manila.
DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa thanked all IVI member-states and said the Philippines will continue its advocacy in the discovery and creation of safe and effective vaccines.
In a video posted on the official DOH Facebook website, Herbosa said vaccines are the most cost-effective public health measure that any country should invest in. “Each peso invested in vaccines will help protect millions of lives, especially children, from vaccine-preventable disease.”
Herbosa added that the immunization program, along with nutrition programs and access to primary healthcare, is part of the priority initiatives of the DOH. He also hopes that with help from IVI, vaccine security will become part of the national security program of the Philippines.
“It’s very important for us to have a sufficient amount of vaccines because when an outbreak occurs, we have to wait for the vaccines to arrive from another country,” he said.
The IVI is a global organization created under the United Nations Development Programme in 1997 with 20 member-states including the Philippines. It is dedicated to provide protection to low- and middle-income countries from illnesses and diseases through continuous research and development of vaccine security.