If you're 60 or older, you can get pneumonia shots for free
Vaccines save lives. But for some, especially elderly adults, vaccines are just an additional expense.
“The measly sum I get from my Social Security System (SSS) pension isn’t even enough to cover my daily expenses and maintenance meds,” laments Pol Claro, 74, a retired OFW. “After working half my life, I only get P2,200 monthly pension.”
His sentiments are shared by most elderly adults in the country, who have to make do with their monthly pension to survive.
The price range for a pneumonia vaccine is from P3,000 to P4,500.
The good news is, if you’re 60 or older, you can get your pneumonia shots for free at barangay health centers. That’s because pneumococcal vaccination is included in the National Immunization Program (NIP) of the Department of Health (DOH).
“The goal of the DOH with the NIP is to cover the pneumococcal vaccination of Filipinos across different life stages — from children, to adults, to the elderly,” enthused Dr. Allandale Nacino, medical officer IV at the Disease Prevention and Control Bureau (DPCB) of the DOH.
No one should be left behind
Pneumonia was the hot topic at the latest Pandesal Forum hosted by STAR columnist Wilson Lee Flores. Titled, “Bakunado si Lolo at Lola, Iwas Pulmonya,” the forum featured a distinguished panel of experts, who discussed the prevailing challenges around pneumonia and shared insights on strategies to prevent and manage this deadly disease.
Even before COVID-19 posed a severe health risk among senior citizens, pneumonia had already been affecting the elderly.
In the new normal, pneumonia still remains a leading cause of hospitalization and death among the elderly and people living with chronic disease.
While the severity of pneumonia can range from mild to life-threatening, it is most severe and fatal for infants and children, adults over 65 years old, immune-compromised individuals, and people living with chronic health problems.
And, in spite of the looming threat of COVID-19, pneumonia remained the seventh leading cause of death in the Philippines in 2021. The saddest part? Almost all of these deaths could have been prevented, because pneumonia is a vaccine-preventable disease.
It threatens Filipino families due to the lack of awareness about the disease, with only a small segment of the population vaccinated against pneumonia.
To address this gap, the national government, the medical community, senior citizen advocates, and the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), with the support of MSD in the Philippines, are working together to spread awareness about pneumonia and various programs available for Filipinos to prevent the disease.
Better safety and prevention measures
“The key to averting deaths and complications from pneumonia is better safety and prevention measures,” says Dr. Arthur Dessi E. Roman, medical specialist III, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM).
And one of the most effective ways to stop pneumonia in its tracks is still through pneumococcal vaccination.
“We have to get over this misconception that vaccines are just an additional expense,” explained Roman, especially in light of the free vaccination programs of the national government.
He added that pneumonia prevention through vaccination will not only prevent the disease itself, but can also prevent hospital and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions.
Vaccination, indeed, safeguards the quality of life of the elderly.
There are three types of pneumonia: viral, atypical pneumonia or walking pneumonia, and bacterial pneumonia.
Viral pneumonia is caused by various viruses, including influenza. It can be easily treated with proper nutrition and medication.
Atypical pneumonia is caused by different bacteria than the more common ones that cause pneumonia. It is characterized by inflamed or swollen lung tissue due to infection.
Then there’s bacterial pneumonia. It is caused by bacteria, the most common of which is streptococcus pneumoniae.
“Bacterial pneumonia is a vaccine-preventable disease,” stressed Dr. Roman.
When one is immunized against pneumonia, he/she may experience lower severity of the lung infection, thereby helping to increase the chances of survival from the disease and reducing the likelihood of hospitalization.
‘Huwag mahihiyang magtanong’
As part of its advocacy to ensure the effective implementation of various programs and services for senior citizens, the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) joins the national government and the medical community in this campaign to raise awareness about the urgency of pneumonia vaccination, especially among senior citizens.
“Access to quality and affordable healthcare is important. As an organization, we are constantly looking for ways to make the well-being of every senior citizen our topmost priority,” says Samir M. Manzanilla, project development officer IV at the NCSC.
As per the DOH, all senior citizens aged 60 years old and above must receive the following vaccines for free: one dose of pneumococcal vaccine throughout their lifetime, and one dose of the flu vaccine every year. To ensure safety, all eligible senior citizens must be assessed and interviewed before their immunization to determine any contraindications.
The national government, through the DOH, is ramping up its immunization programs to help protect the elderly and is encouraging all eligible senior citizens to avail of the free pneumococcal vaccination from their local health centers.
Nacino appealed to the elderly not to hesitate to visit the nearest health center to inquire about receiving a free pneumococcal jab.
“Pwede pong gawin ng ating mga kababayan is pumunta po sa ating mga centers to inquire about the availability of these vaccines,” shared Nacino.
Adult vaccines, such as pneumococcal vaccines and flu shots, are also now available in local pharmacies and drugstore chains nationwide and can now be administered by pharmacists.
“Pneumonia is no joke,” said Ciriaco Angeles, president of the Provincial Federation of Senior Citizens Association of Cavite Inc.
Speaking to his fellow senior citizens, Angeles added: “Huwag mahihiyang magtanong (Don’t be afraid to ask questions). Let us strengthen our resolve to learn more about pneumonia and ask our family members, fellow senior citizens, and our local communities about the free pneumonia vaccinations in our barangay health centers.”
