The 

Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in the Philippines began in July 1979. And, in 1986, made a response to
the Universal Child Immunization goal. The four major strategies include:
1. Sustaining high routine Full Immunized Child (FIC) coverage of at least 90% in all provinces and cities,
2. Sustaining the polio-free country for global certification
3. Eliminating measles by 2008,
4. Eliminating neonatal tetanus by 2008.

The standard routine immunization schedule for infants in the Philippines is adopted to provide maximum immunity
against the seven vaccine preventable diseases in the country before the child's first birthday. The fully immunized child
must have completed BCG 1, DPT 1, DPT 2, DPT 3, OPV 1, OPV 2, OPV 3, HB 1, HB 2, HB 3 and measles vaccines
before the child is 12 months of age.

Minimum Minimum
Number
Vaccine Age Dose Interval Route Site Reason
of Doses
at 1st Dose Between Doses

Right BCG given at earliest possible age

Birth or
Bacillus 0.05 deltoid protects the possibility of TB
anytime after 1 -- Intradermal
Calmette-Guérin mL region of meningitis and other TB infections in
birth
the arm which infants are prone.

Diphtheria- Upper outer

0.5 Intramuscula An early start with DPT reduces the
Pertussis- 6 weeks 3 4 weeks portion of
mL r chance of severe pertussis.
Tetanus Vaccine the thigh

The extent of protection against polio

Oral Polio 2-3 is increased the earlier the OPV is
6 weeks 3 4 weeks Oral Mouth
Vaccine drops given.
Keeps the Philippines polio-free.

An early start of Hepatitis B vaccine

6 weeks reduces the chance of being infected
interval from and becoming a carrier.
1st dose to 2nd Prevents liver cirrhosis and liver
Upper outer
Hepatitis B 0.5 dose, Intramuscula cancer which are more likely to
At birth 3 portion of
Vaccine mL 8 weeks r develop if infected with Hepatitis B
the thigh
interval from early in life.
2nd dose to About 9,000 die of complications of
third dose. Hepatits B. 10% of Filipinos have
Hepatitis B infection.

Measles Vaccine Upper outer At least 85% of measles can be

0.5 Subcutaneou
9 months 1 -- portion of prevented by immunization at this
mL s
the arms age.
(not MMR)

General Principles in Infants/Children Immunization

 Because measles kills, every infant needs to be vaccinated against measles at the age of 9 months or as soon as
possible after 9 months as part of the routine infant vaccination schedule. It is safe to vaccinate a sick child who is
suffering from a minor illness (cough, cold, diarrhea, fever or malnutrition) or who has already been vaccinated
against measles.
 If the vaccination schedule is interrupted, it is not necessary to restart. Instead, the schedule should be resumed
using minimal intervals between doses to catch up as quickly as possible.
 Vaccine combinations (few exceptions), antibiotics, low-dose steroids (less than 20 mg per day), minor infections
with low fever (below 38.5º Celsius), diarrhea, malnutrition, kidney or liver disease, heart or lung disease, non-
progressive encephalopathy, well controlled epilepsy or advanced age, are not contraindications to vaccination.
Contrary to what the majority of doctors may think, vaccines against hepatitis B and tetanus can be applied in any
period of the pregnancy.
 There are very few true contraindication and precaution conditions. Only two of these conditions are generally
considered to be permanent: severe (anaphylactic) allergic reaction to a vaccine component or following a prior dose
of a vaccine, and encephalopathy not due to another identifiable cause occurring within 7 days of pertussis
vaccination.
 Only the diluent supplied by the manufacturer should be used to reconstitute a freeze-dried vaccine. A sterile
needle and sterile syringe must be used for each vial for adding the diluent to the powder in a single vial or ampoule
of freeze-dried vaccine.
 The only way to be completely safe from exposure to blood-borne diseases from injections, particularly hepatitis B
virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is to use one sterile needle, one sterile
syringe for each child.

Care for the Vaccines

To ensure the optimal potency of vaccines, careful attention is needed in handling practices at the country level. These
include storage and transport of vaccines from the primary vaccine store down to the end-user at the health facility, and
further down at the outreach sites. Inappropriate storage, handling and transport of vaccines won’t protect patients and
may lead to needless vaccine wastage.

A "first expiry and first out" (FEFO) vaccine system is practiced to assure that all vaccines are utilized before its expiry
date. Proper arrangement of vaccines and/or labelling of expiry dates are done to identify those close to expiring. Vaccine
temperature is monitored twice a day (early in the morning and in the afternoon) in all health facilities and plotted to
monitor break in the cold chain. Each level of health facilities has cold chain equipment for use in the storage vaccines
which included cold room, freezer, refrigerator, transport box, vaccine carriers, thermometers, cold chain monitors, ice
packs, temperature monitoring chart and safety collector boxes.

Tetanus Toxoid Immunization Schedule for Women

The standard routine immunization schedule for infants in the Philippines is adopted to provide maximum immunity
against the seven vaccine preventable diseases in the country before the child's first birthday. The fully immunized child
must have completed BCG 1, DPT 1, DPT 2, DPT 3, OPV 1, OPV 2, OPV 3, HB 1, HB 2, HB 3 and measles vaccines
before the child is 12 months of age.

Percent
Vaccin Minimum
Protecte Duration of Protection
e Age/Interval
d

As early as possible
TT1 -- --
during pregnancy

 infants born to the mother will be protected from neonatal

TT2 At least 4 weeks later 80% tetanus
 gives 3 years protection for the mother

 infants born to the mother will be protected from neonatal

TT3 At least 6 months later 95% tetanus
 gives 5 years protection for the mother

 infants born to the mother will be protected from neonatal

TT4 At least 1 year later 99% tetanus
 gives 10 years protection for the mother

 gives lifetime protection for the mother

TT5 At least 1 year later 99%
 all infants born to that mother will be protected