Vaccine experts urged the Department of Health to expedite its flu immunization campaign to prevent an outbreak that could severely impact on senior citizens.
Amid a pertussis outbreak affecting several regions of the country, experts also called on the DOH to hasten the early rollout of free elderly flu vaccines in May.
This would mitigate potential outbreaks before the expected peak incidence between June and November.
“The recent outbreak of respiratory diseases is a testament to the importance of early preparation in mitigating the impact of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). The DOH must act now and expedite the release of flu vaccines to the public before the peak incidence to safeguard the elderly from severe complications like pneumonia,” said Dr. Rontgene Solante, infectious disease expert and lead convenor of the Raising Awareness on Influenza to Support Elderlies (RAISE) Coalition.
Dr. Lulu Bravo, RAISE Coalition co-convenor, called on the DOH to expand free flu vaccination for all seniors.
“Many elderly depend solely on government-provided free vaccines as their primary protection against the flu. It is crucial to vaccinate all seniors, similar to the proactive measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Controlling pertussis will take time, and its concurrent rise with flu cases could strain our healthcare system’s capacity to respond effectively,” Bravo said.
Over the past year, the Philippines witnessed a staggering 45 percent surge in cases of influenza-like illnesses (ILI), indicating a notable uptick in respiratory diseases.
Compounding the issue, a total of 5682 pertussis cases have emerged in numerous communities across the country, further emphasizing the critical need for immediate vaccination efforts, the group said.
Apart from the urgent need for flu vaccines, the two health experts also highlighted the importance of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccination for the elderly population amid the outbreak.