Reading
Add Comment
‘Stronger Voice Needed’: Health Experts Call for Unity to Protect Senior Citizens Against Influenza
- Pope Francis
Please read below to be become open-minded about this issue.
Health experts, together with local government units, called on medical
groups, government, and stakeholders to create a coalition to champion flu
immunization specifically for older adults. During a media roundtable
discussion organized by the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV) and the
Philippine College for Geriatric Medicine (PCGM) last June 6, 2022, Philippine
College of Physicians Vice President Dr. Rontgene Solante said it’s about time
the country has a whole-of-society approach to better protect older adults
against influenza, “We would like to
protect this population against exacerbation of other infections. Decreasing
hospitalization among this population will also have an implication in
decreasing complications like diabetes, stroke, even hip fracture, and cardiac
complications. This partnership with the government and private medical
societies–these are very important to move forward. This is for the greater
good of the population.”
PFV’s Executive Director Dr. Lulu Bravo, who has always championed the
health and well-being of senior citizens through vaccination, couldn’t agree
more. “Our senior citizens should be
aware of the different free vaccines available to them, especially for
influenza. In the near future, we might even have new Quadrivalent flu vaccines
(QIV) for added protection. This vaccine includes the same strains as the
trivalent vaccine (TIV) we’re currently using now, but with an additional B
strain. This means the QIV produces a higher antibody response in patients 60
years old and above compared to the TIV. But introducing new types of vaccines,
especially to older adults, has been a challenge. We need the support system of
the entire medical community, our LGUs, as well as the private and public
sector, especially the media to champion flu immunization for older adults,”
Bravo said.
According to Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious
Diseases Former President Dr. Remedios Coronel, our older adults are vulnerable
to many diseases because of immunosenescence or the lowering of immunity as
people get older. It is important that family members and seniors should be
immunized against vaccine preventable diseases such as influenza. “Influenza vaccines are safe. It’s very
effective in decreasing the severity of hospitalization especially among our
older adults with comorbidities”, Coronel quipped. In the Philippines,
Influenza-attributable deaths account for 5.09 deaths every 100,000 persons. It
is highest among individuals 60 years old and above.
PCGM President Dr. Eduardo Poblete said the PCGM has recently released
statements of support and policy recommendations to further enhance the system
in combating influenza, pneumonia, and other respiratory infections among older
adults to promote their health and wellness throughout their lifetime. “We are suggesting a holistic approach to
try to promote the health and well-being of all the older Filipino adults by
promoting vaccine confidence among the elderly, promoting preventive medicine
including fall prevention, vaccination, self-care and maintaining
functionality,” Poblete said.
At the local government level, the City of Pasig is beefing up efforts
to roll out its flu immunization program for older adults. Pasig City National
Immunization Program Medical Coordinator Dr. Angelo Saquitan agrees with the
health experts that there is a need to create a coalition to champion influenza
immunization for seniors. “This is for
everyone’s benefit. The whole community will benefit if our seniors are
vaccinated against the flu. Prevention is always better than cure,” Saquitan
said. He reiterated that the vaccines have been tried and tested for years, and
are perfectly safe. “I really think a
coalition to champion flu immunization for older adults will help increase our
flu vaccination rates and better protect our seniors,” Saquitan added.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment