DOH: 5 million flu vaccines for elderly due August

MANILA, Philippines — Five million doses of flu vaccines for the country’s senior citizens will be made available next month, the Department of Health said.

“The DOH is currently finalizing the procurement of the flu vaccines, with an estimated delivery time of August,” the DOH said in a statement before the weekend.

Once released, the vaccines will benefit indigent senior citizens so they can be protected against influenza.

“The vaccination program for senior citizens will run until the end of the year,” the DOH added.

According to infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante, influenza cases are expected to increase next month, thus there is a need for the health department to speed up the purchase of flu vaccines for seniors.

He stressed the importance of the elderly getting vaccinated early, starting April up to July, to prepare for the peak of influenza, which is August to December and early January next year.

“There’s an urgent need to fast-track procurement because we want the most vulnerable to be protected with a vaccine that will prevent death, prevent hospitalization, prevent complications of flu,” he said.

Solante, lead convenor of the Raising Awareness on Influenza to Support Elderlies (RAISE) Coalition, lamented that the Philippines is far behind in its target of 75 percent vaccine coverage as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for populations at risk.

“Only 8.81 percent of adults aged 60 and older in the Philippines were vaccinated against influenza in 2022,” he said.

The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 mandates free influenza and pneumococcal vaccines for indigent seniors. Legislators and the RAISE Coalition have been advocating to expand this measure to cover all seniors.

The WHO said seasonal influenza is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses, which spread easily between people when they cough or sneeze.  Symptoms of influenza include acute onset of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches and fatigue.

The WHO noted that vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease.