VACCINATION DRIVE. The anti-flu vaccination drive at the Department of Science and Technology regional office in Palo, Leyte in this undated photo. The Department of Health (DOH) has been inoculating 100,000 doses of flu and pneumococcal vaccines in Eastern Visayas to combat the expected surge of respiratory illness this holiday season. (Photo courtesy of DOH)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) has intensified in the last two weeks the inoculation against flu in Eastern Visayas to combat the expected surge of respiratory illness this holiday season.
DOH regional information officer Jelyn Lopez-Malibago said the vaccination drive started last September and they have so far delivered around 100,000 flu and pneumococcal vaccines to cities and provinces.
Malibago said the remaining 1,500 doses that are stored at the DOH regional office will be administered during the vaccination drive on Dec. 14 to 15 at the regional office in Palo, Leyte.
“We have allocated and distributed to provinces and cities. We also granted requests from national government agencies, non-government organization, private institutions, hospitals and other organizations,” she told the Philippine News Agency Tuesday.
Health workers administer flu vaccines to 18 years and older, while those 45 years old and above are targeted for pneumococcal vaccination. Older people can get both vaccines.
Flu usually comes on suddenly, while pneumonia takes longer to develop and can be a complication from the flu, Malibago added.
She said vaccines are needed with the higher cases of flu-like illnesses this year following the lifting of pandemic restrictions.
As of end-November 2023, the region recorded 10,950 flu cases with 21 deaths. This is higher by 27 percent than the 8,627 recorded, in 23 deaths, in 2022.
Influenza or flu is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza virus and is common worldwide.
The World Health Organization said most people recover from it without treatment.
It spreads easily between people when they cough or sneeze, and symptoms include onset of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue. (PNA)
