FEBRUARY 26, 2026 — The Department of Health (DOH) is making waves with its latest recommendation: minor penalties for parents who deliberately refuse to protect their children from vaccine-preventable diseases. Undersecretary Emmie Liza Chiong told lawmakers that despite repeated campaigns, immunization coverage in the Philippines remains dangerously low — hovering between 60 to 70 percent from 2018 to 2022. In 2025, only 64.27 percent of Filipino children were fully immunized, far below the 95 percent target. 

Now that’s not just a statistic. It’s a ticking time bomb for public health.

Chiong’s proposal isn’t about punishment for punishment’s sake. It’s about accountability. 

“Consider including a provision of minor penalties for parents or caregivers who, after due notice, consciously neglects their duty to provide their children utmost protection from vaccine-preventable diseases,” she said. 

Neglect has consequences, not just for one child, but for the entire community.

However, while the DOH pushes for stricter measures, lawmakers like Kalinga Representative Caroline Agyao are flagging vaccine wastage. She revealed that some vaccines are left to expire before reaching remote areas. 

“Sana po ‘yung expiry din tingnan niyo … kasi mag-e-expire na the next week,” she said, pointing out how procurement and distribution gaps waste taxpayer money. 

(Please also check the expiry … because it’s about to expire next week.) 

Her frustration reflects a reality many Filipinos know too well: policies crafted “up there” don’t always match the struggles “down here.”

Immunization isn’t just a health issue. It’s a matter of national resilience. If parents will be penalized for neglect, shouldn’t the government also be held accountable for ensuring vaccines don’t expire in warehouses?

When both parents and the system drop the ball on protecting our kids, who should really be held accountable?

(Image: Philippine News Agency)