The holiday season is upon us once again. It is that joyous time of year when Filipino families get together, eat and drink, and have a good time. Unfortunately, the holidays coincide with flu season in the country, which typically runs from June to November.
Flu can lead to more serious infections such as pneumonia, especially among younger children, the elderly, pregnant women, or those with certain chronic health conditions. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by viruses, bacteria, and fungi that can result in mild to severe illness in people of all ages. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the Philippines and the most common cause of death among children under 5 years of age in the country.
Pneumonia as a flu complication tends to be more severe and potentially fatal. Its life-threatening complications, include bacteria in the bloodstream (sepsis), difficulty breathing, fluid accumulation around the lungs, and lung abscess. These complications often require costly treatments and prolonged hospitalization.
Lower your pneumonia risk by getting recommended vaccines
Getting your annual flu shot is the best way to reduce your risk from the flu and pneumonia. At-risk individuals should also get vaccinated against pneumococcal pneumonia. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all children younger than 5 years old and all adults 65 years or older. In certain situations, other children and adults should also get pneumococcal vaccines.
Studies show that pneumococcal vaccination, especially of high-risk individuals, is associated with fewer hospitalizations for pneumonia, fewer deaths, and direct medical care cost savings.
Book your family’s flu and pneumococcal vaccination now by visiting https://www.vaccination.watsons.com.ph/.
References: https://doh.gov.ph/Health-Advisory/Influenza. Accessed 14 November 2023 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193578. Accessed 14 November 2023 http://www.pidsphil.org/home/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/003_vol-22-no-2_SANTOS_PNEUMONIA.pdf. Accessed 14 November 2023 https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/riskfactors.html. Accessed 14 November 2023 https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/what-is-the-connection#:~:text=Influenza%20is%20a%20common%20cause,be%20more%20severe%20and%20deadly. Accessed 14 November 2023 https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/causes.html. Accessed 14 November 2023 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2799225?utm_campaign=articlePDF&utm_medium=articlePDFlink&utm_source=articlePDF&utm_content=jamainternmed.2022.5472. Accessed 14 November 2023 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10198-021-01343-8. Accessed 14 November 2023 https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/five-facts-you-should-know. Accessed 14 November 2023 https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/public/index.html. Accessed 14 November 2023
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