By RHAYDZ B BARCIA
LEGAZPI CITY: The Department of
Health-Center for Health Development in Bicol is stepping up its immunization
drive for indigent senior citizens against influenza and pneumococcal
infections here.
The health department in Bicol is
targeting at least 95,000 indigent senior citizens for pneumonia vaccination
and 114,987 for influenza.
Pneumonia is the second leading cause of
mortality in 2011 while influenza is the third leading cause of morbidity in
the Bicol region.
Both diseases are responsible for the
hospitalization and deaths worldwide and complications occur mostly among the
elderly who are suffering from chronic medical conditions.
Immunization remains the best preventive
measure to fight cases of pneumonia and influenza, Gloria J Balboa, DOH
regional director in Bicol told Bicol Mail.
“Indigent
senior citizens are given pneumococcal immunization only once while influenza
vaccine is being provided yearly. This is because pneumococcal vaccine provides
lifetime immunity for senior citizens.
"On the other hand treatment for
influenza depends on the strain of the flu virus prevailing for a given year,”
Balboa explained.
Balboa expects that after the
vaccination, indigent senior citizens will be more protected against the
disease.
Nancy Pastrana, DOH EPI nurse
coordinator in the region told Bicol Mail that as the campaign is being
undertaken by DOH-CHD Bicol along with the local government units, all indigent
senior citizens are encouraged to coordinate with the Organization of Senior
Citizen Association (OSCA) in their respective locality for updates and
schedule of vaccination.
In 2012, the health department in Bicol
has immunized a total of 113,780 indigent senior citizens, 103,365 of them
against influenza and 10,415 against pneumonia. – Bicol Mail
No comments:
Post a Comment