Hinikayat ng ilang medical experts ang Department of Health (DOH) na madaliin ang kanilang flu immunization campaign para sa mga senior citizen upang mapigilan ang posibleng pagkakaroon ng outbreak.
Bunsod nang pagtaas ng pertussis cases sa ilang rehiyon sa bansa, nanawagan din sila sa DOH na mas agahan ang rollout o pagkakaloob ng libreng elderly flu vaccines sa Mayo bago pa man ang inaasahang peak incidence sa pagitan ng Hunyo hanggang Nobyembre.
“The recent outbreak of respiratory diseases is a testament to the importance of early preparation in mitigating the impact of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). The DOH must act now and expedite the release of flu vaccines to the public before the peak incidence to
safeguard the elderly from severe complications like pneumonia,” ayon kay Dr. Rontgene Solante, isang Infectious Disease Expert anlt lead convenor ng Raising Awareness on Influenza to Support Elderlies (RAISE) Coalition, sa isang pahayag nitong Biyernes.
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Sa ilalim ng Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, inaatasan ang DOH na magbigay ng libreng bakuna laban sa influenza virus at pneumococcal disease para sa indigent senior citizens.
Isinusulong naman ng RAISE Coalition at ng ilang mambabatas na palawakin pa ito at sakupin na rin ang lahat ng senior citizens sa bansa.
Ayon kay RAISE Coalition co-convenor Dr. Lulu Bravo, "Many elderly depend solely on government-provided free vaccines as their primary protection against the flu."
"It is crucial to vaccinate all seniors, similar to the proactive measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Controlling pertussis will take time, and its concurrent rise with flu cases could strain our
healthcare system's capacity to respond effectively," aniya pa.
Kaugnay nito, binigyang-diin din ng dalawang health experts ang kahalagahan ng tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccination para sa elderly population sa gitna ng outbreak.
Anila, makatutulong ang pagbabakuna na mabawasan ang potential transmission at magsisilbi ring protective measure para sa households at mas malawak pang komunidad.
