PH now has vaccine for flu virus

Boy receiving vaccine (Photo from Flickr/CDC Global)

MANILA – For the first time in the Philippines, a new vaccine – the quadrivalent flu vaccine – that can protect Filipinos from the highly contagious viral infection is now available.

“People think of flu as just a minor illness. In reality, flu is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death,” Philippine Foundation for Vaccination president Dr. May Montellano said, mentioning that the flu virus was the fourth leading cause of illness in the country.

“Things could get worse for young children whose immune systems are not fully developed, frail elderly individuals and those with underlying chronic medical conditions such as heart, lung, or kidney disease, with immune system problem, diabetes, some blood diseases, or malignancy as they could quickly develop serious complications and lead to death,” she added.

Fortunately, the quadrivalent flu vaccine includes the A and B types of flu virus.  Each type has subtypes and lineages which cause seasonal diseases, especially during the rainy season.

“Every year, the World Health Organization through its Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System selects which subtypes of the A and lineage of the B will be included in the seasonal flu vaccine,” Montellano said.

“Flu viruses are constantly changing; they can change from one season to the next.

The WHO must pick which viruses to include in the vaccine many months in advance in order for vaccine to be produced and delivered on time. With the quadrivalent flu vaccine, additional protection may be afforded as it increases the chance that it will match the circulating lineages of B aside from the subtypes of A,” she added.

Montalleno then advises the public to get shot with the vaccine as early as now. There are two ways to get vaccinated. There is the flu shot and the flu nasal spray vaccine.

“An annual flu shot is your first line of defense against the virus,” she said, asserting that even healthy individuals were still at risk of flu.

Aside from vaccination, the Department of Health (DOH) has released guidelines to prevent one from getting the flu. This included having a balanced diet and exercising regularly to stay healthy, washing hands frequently with soap and water, minimizing contact with a sick person, and avoiding crowded places. – with quotations from a Philippine Daily Inquirer report