Free flu jabs for seniors sought

MANILA, Philippines — Consumer welfare groups are demanding free flu vaccines for senior citizens, aside from increased discounts on basic goods.

“The low vaccine uptake is primarily due to lack of awareness and the high cost of vaccines. The government’s free vaccination program stands as their only means of protection against vaccine-preventable diseases,” Philippine Coalition of Consumer Welfare Inc. (PCCWI) founder Ricardo Samaniego said.

Only 36.3 percent of adults aged 60 and above are vaccinated against influenza, which remains one of the leading causes of death among the elderly, based on government data.

Free influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for indigent seniors are mandated under the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 and must be provided by the Department of Health (DOH).

The PCCWI is pushing to expand this measure to cover all seniors nationwide.

Seniors who are registered voters have been receiving free flu shots from some local government units in the National Capital Region, effectively increasing vaccine uptake rates in those areas.

The government needs to strengthen immunization efforts to promote a healthy aging society, the Bayan Bakuna group said.

Free flu immunization for seniors must be undertaken between May and June or before peak flu season, consumer groups said.

Meanwhile, the DOH-Ilocos regional office recently launched a large-scale social mobilization project and cervical cancer mass screening for La Union residents.

Early detection and treatment through screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization can help prevent the onset of cervical cancer, said DOH-Ilocos regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco.

As of 2023, the Philippines has a population of 39.6 million women aged 15 and above in danger of developing cervical cancer, based on data from the HPV Information Centre.

An average of 7,897 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,052 die from the disease annually, it added.