Health group calls to expand vaccine access for expectant mothers

A health group has called to expand vaccine access for expectant mothers as part of antenatal care to decrease maternal and infant deaths in the Philippines.

The Philippine Infectious Diseases Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (PIDSOG) on Tuesday said mothers need Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) vaccines to protect themselves and their unborn babies.

"We want our mothers to be protected from the start kasi nakita natin (because we found that) the Philippines mortality rate is way above the global mortality rate," PIDSOG president Ana Fallarme said during a forum in Pasay City.

"Our target actually is to just decrease the mortality rate to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births. Tayo po ay nakakarecord ng (We have recorded) as high as 119 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births In 2024," she added.

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that 1,852 maternal deaths were recorded nationwide in 2024, alongside a maternal mortality ratio of 119 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Meanwhile, the same date logged 20,520 infant deaths for children under one year old.

Armed with these figures, Fallarme said she discussed the outcomes of PIDSOG’s meeting with stakeholders earlier this month.

She pointed out that PhilHealth’s expanded maternity benefit only covers tetanus vaccination under the Tdap vaccine in its mandatory services.

Aside from the Tdap vaccine, Fallarme said expectant mothers are also recommended to receive the influenza (flu) vaccine and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine as part of their immunization during pregnancy.

She pointed out that PhilHealth only covers around 30% of the actual expenses of antenatal care.

"So the patient's out-of-pocket expenses ay malaki pa rin, at kapag tayo ay nasa laylayan ng society, ‘yung 70% na i-shell out ay malaki po yun," Fallarme said.

(Patients still have to shoulder significant out-of-pocket expenses, and for those at the margins of society, having to pay 70% out of pocket is already a substantial financial burden.)

Under the PhilHealth’s expanded maternity benefit, normal deliveries would increase from P9,750 to P29,000 while coverage for cesarean deliveries would also go up from P37,000 to 58,000 to P62,000.

Vaccine mismatches

Fallarme also raised alarm over the mismatch of vaccines across the country where some localities have an abundant supply of vaccines while others have limited stocks.

"So depending iyan sa LGU priority din (It depends on the local government unit's priority)," Fallarme said. "I think it's really about prioritization."

Aside from vaccine access and coverage, Fallarme said there are also gaps in sector service delivery, financing, claims and care coordination in antenatal care.

"That's why I emphasize that in the good governance accreditation and the LGU-DILG scorecard, dapat isama talaga ‘yung maternal vaccination and complete prenatal check-up as their indicators para ma-inspire ang mga LGU na i-prioritize ang maternal care," Fallarme said.

(That’s why I emphasize that maternal vaccination and complete prenatal check-ups should be included as indicators in the good governance accreditation and the local government unit-Department of the Interior and Local Government scorecard to encourage LGUs to prioritize maternal care.)

Following the stakeholders' meeting, PIDSOG will create a policy brief and deliver it to PhilHealth.

"They (PhilHealth) know the gaps and they are very positive in helping us to resolve the gaps," the PIDSOG head said, adding that PhilHealth was part of the stakeholders meeting.

"And I think I'm really positive because the two representatives that were here during the stakeholder meeting admit that there has been an error in the coding of the data and they promised us that they will help us resolve that in the near future," she added. —RF, GMA News