OVER P590M WORTH OF CHILD VACCINES WASTED IN 2025 – GATCHALIAN

MORE than P590 million for the government’s vaccination program was wasted in 2025, Senate President Win Gatchalian said 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. 

He said 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.