While the world is still waiting for the Covid-19 vaccine, there are other safety measures apart from hand-washing and physical distancing that can help in the efforts to stay healthy amid the pandemic.
Immunization advocate Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV) reminded everyone, especially the elderly, of the importance of getting the flu vaccine to lessen the risk of getting sick as the country is faced with this health crisis.
The PFV issued the reminder as senior citizens are more susceptible to being infected by the Covid-19 virus and other infectious diseases. The flu and Covid-19 have similar symptoms such as fever, cough, body aches, fatigue, and sore throat.
The Department of Health (DOH) recently reported that the flu and pneumonia vaccines can help prevent complications from Covid-19.
Be proactive in fight against disease
PFV President Dr. Liza Gonzales underscored the importance of being proactive in fighting not just COVID-19 but also other infectious diseases that continuously affect the lives of many Filipinos.
“While we all look forward to the development of the Covid-19 vaccine, we must also take the initiative to protect ourselves against many health threats in the environment,” Gonzales said.
Although the flu vaccine cannot prevent Covid-19, it can still “help protect even the most vulnerable among us against complications from the disease, making it a beneficial option we can take advantage of to keep ourselves healthy.”
With this, the PFV called on the public to continue immunization during the community quarantine and prioritize the elderly in their recent webinar titled “Protect The Elderly.”
Weakened immune system
“As people age, the immune system grows weaker, making it susceptible to infections and diseases,” Internist and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Arthur Dessi Roman explained in the webinar recently.
He added, “Since we are a culture that values the closeness of a family, it is not uncommon for us to live with many relatives, and some of them are senior citizens. It is, then, highly important for us to get them vaccinated to add a layer of protection from diseases.”
According to the Philippine Center for Disease Control, citizens 65 years and older account for 50 to 70 percent of the seasonal flu-related hospitalizations. In the Philippines, 28 percent of households have elderly residents above 60 years of age.
Aside from the fear of being exposed to the virus, the main barrier for widespread immunization is the restriction of movement and activities under the community quarantine imposed by the government to locally contain the pandemic.
Dr. Roman noted that medical professionals have developed their own initiatives to continue immunization while the government also recently disclosed that they have programs to support immunization efforts.
Image credits: Erwin P. Nicavera