Health experts, nutritionists, and parent advocates are calling for stronger, holistic programs that integrate nutrition and timely vaccination, underscoring that children need both to grow healthy and stay protected against disease.

Children make up a third of the country’s population, yet almost 3 in 10 under the age of five are stunted due to malnutrition. At the same time, vaccination coverage remains low, with only 61% of eligible children fully immunized as of January 2025, which is far below the 95% target for achieving herd immunity. These challenges highlight the need for coordinated efforts to nurture a healthy and resilient generation.

“Nutrition is a critical part of health and development. Better nutrition is linked to improved child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, and even better productivity later in life,” said Theresa A. Rivas, Nutrition Officer III of the National Nutrition Council–Calabarzon. “The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are crucial for shaping their overall development. Combining good nutrition with timely immunization helps ensure children grow up healthy and resilient.”

Dr. Maria Cristina Alberto, Board Member of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV) and Founder of Hope in Me Club, stressed that, “Good nutrition is not enough. Even healthy kids can get infected with diseases. It’s important for parents to recognize that children should also get vaccinated. Vaccination protects children throughout their lifetime as long as we follow the childhood immunization schedule and recommended booster shots.”

From a school health perspective, Dr. Allen Mallari, President of the Philippine Academy of Physicians in School Health, Inc. (PAPSHI), explained, “Public and private sectors must work together to strengthen policies and programs to ensure children receive holistic health. By collaborating, we can support initiatives like school feeding programs and school-based vaccination drives, ensuring that children grow up healthy and protected against diseases.”

Local governments are ramping up their efforts. In Lipa City, Dr. Corazon Sabile, Medical Officer IV of the West District Health Center, highlighted preparations for the school-based immunization program for Grades 1, 4, and 7, in coordination with the Department of Education, local pediatricians, the Department of Health, and the Provincial Health Office. The city also launched an Immunization Caravan with the support of their Local Chief Executive (LCE)  to expand access and reach the 95% coverage target.

Other experts stressed the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in improving child health. Dr. Lulu Bravo, Executive Director of PFV, and Dr. Gladness Henna Martinez, Governor of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) Rizal Region, noted that medical societies are ready to support and encouraged them to lead localized programs on children’s health and nutrition, either in partnership with LGUs or through private initiatives.

From the parents’ perspective, Ms. Alexenda Absin Macuja, founder of the Best Nanay online community, emphasized that mothers, as frontline caregivers, play a vital role in keeping children safe and healthy.

Reinforcing the need for collective action, PHAP Executive Director Teodoro Padilla concluded, “Strong programs, effective policies, and collaboration among government, healthcare professionals, private sector, the academe, and parents are essential to ensure every Filipino child grows up healthy.”

The forum, titled “Vax to School: Building Healthy Learners with Vaccination and Nutrition” and organized by PHAP in partnership with PMA and PFV, concluded with a unified call to multi-stakeholder collaboration to strengthen holistic child care, emphasizing that nutrition and timely vaccination go hand in hand to ensure children grow up healthy, resilient, and ready to learn.

The webinar was livestreamed on the official Facebook pages of PHAP, PMA, and PFV.