Adult Vaccination Still Low as Preventive Care Not Prioritized, Experts Say
MANILA, Philippines (June 18, 2026) — Healthcare leaders are calling on Filipinos to make vaccination a routine part of their healthcare, emphasizing its role as one of the most cost-effective forms of preventive care 1 . To help address barriers to adult vaccination, biopharma company Sanofi Philippines and Healthway Medical Network (HMN), the clinics-and-hospitals arm of Ayala Healthcare Holdings, Inc. (AC Health), are working together to strengthen awareness of and access to adult vaccination through Healthway’s VaxHub, a network of dedicated vaccination hubs designed to make immunization more accessible and convenient.
As the country enters the rainy season, cases of common vaccine-preventable diseases such as influenza and pneumonia are expected to rise, leading to increased healthcare utilization and, in severe cases, hospitalization. For many working-age Filipinos, who account for 65.7% of the country’s labor force, the impact of these illnesses extends beyond health concerns, often resulting in missed workdays, productivity losses, and financial strain on households.
Studies show that 83% of Filipinos only become proactive about their health after falling ill, highlighting how preventive care is often overlooked .Helping more Filipinos adopt a preventive approach to their health is one of the goals of the partnership. Vanessa Gomez, Head of Vaccines at Sanofi Philippines, said, “Our goal is to help more Filipinos understand that caring for their health should start before they get sick. Through our collaboration with Healthway Medical Network, we are helping bridge gaps in preventive care by meeting people where they already seek care and making vaccination a more accessible and convenient part of their healthcare journey.”
The collaboration was highlighted during a VaxHub walkthrough with media at their new Healthway One Ayala Clinic, followed by a media roundtable discussion titled “Access Within Reach: Bringing Adult Vaccination Closer to Filipinos,” where healthcare leaders discussed the importance of adult vaccination in helping protect Filipinos against vaccine-preventable diseases. They noted that vaccination helps reduce the risk of serious illness and hospitalization, particularly during periods when respiratory illnesses become more common.
However, awareness alone does not always lead to action. Even when people understand the benefits of vaccination, access and convenience can remain barriers to uptake. Through VaxHub, vaccination is integrated into routine healthcare visits, making it easier for Filipinos to access recommended vaccines in the same healthcare setting where they already receive care. By bringing vaccination closer to where patients already seek care, VaxHub helps turn awareness into action and supports a broader shift from treatment to prevention.
“At Healthway Medical Network, we believe that healthcare extends beyond treatment—it begins with prevention,” said Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, Chief Health Officer of AC Health. “Through VaxHub, we are making vaccination more visible, accessible, and convenient by integrating it into the routine healthcare visits Filipinos are already making. Together with Sanofi, we hope to help more Filipinos see vaccination not as an extra step, but as a natural part of caring for their health.”
The collaboration reflects Sanofi Philippines and Healthway Medical Network’s shared commitment to advancing preventive healthcare. By combining patient education with accessible healthcare touchpoints, both organizations aim to help more Filipinos incorporate vaccination into their healthcare journey and make prevention a routine part of protecting their health.
[L-R: Maria Patricia Zara, Clinic Manager, Healthway One Ayala Clinic; Dr. Nicole Bautista, Head of Retail Clinics Operations, Healthway Multi-Specialty Center; Vanessa Gomez, Head of Vaccines, Sanofi Philippines; and Jethroe Cunanan, Operations Manager, Sanofi Philippines, gave members of the media a tour of Healthway’s VaxHub facility at Healthway One Ayala Clinic.]
About Sanofi:
Sanofi is an R&D driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and delivering compelling growth.
It apply its deep understanding of the immune system to invent medicines and vaccines that treat and protect millions of people around the world, with an innovative pipeline that could benefit millions more. Our team is guided by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives; this inspires us to drive progress and deliver positive impact for our people and the communities itd serves, by addressing the most urgent healthcare, environmental, and societal challenges of our time.
About Healthway Medical Network (HMN):
Healthway Medical Network (HMN), the clinics and hospitals arm of AC Health, provides integrated healthcare services through a nationwide footprint, recently receiving a double win at the Healthcare Asia Awards 2026. Recognized for its commitment to making reliable care accessible to more communities, HMN was honored for the Public-Private Healthcare Partnership of the Year (Valenzuela-Healthway Hemodialysis Partnership) and the Patient Care Initiative of the Year (Healthway Cancer Care Hospital
(HCCH) Cares). The network’s extensive reach includes the HCCH, four Healthway QualiMed full-service hospitals, 18 clinics, and over 300 corporate clinics. Strengthened by the addition of Healthway FEU-NRMF Medical Center and Healthway Cebu Velez General Hospital, HMN continues to drive its “Care Beyond Cure” mission—connecting medical expertise with a dedicated patient experience across the full continuum of care.
For more information, visit www.healthwaymedicalnetwork.com.ph