Keeping Filipinos healthy
IT was a very reassuring and enlightening talk I had with the exemplary and highly capable Health Secretary Francisco Duque last Sunday when he was my studio guest in DZMM’s teleradyo program Sagot Ko ‘Yan (8 to 9 a.m. Sundays).
First and foremost, Sec. Duque wanted to get across the very important message that amid the controversy over the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia, people must not lose trust in the need for immunization with the various other vaccines that have been proven to be effective and safe over the years in preventing deadly diseases.
He said the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) of the Department of Health is focused on the most common vaccine-preventable diseases that include tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, and hepatitis B.
The importance of immunization is beyond dispute. The DOH website about EPI states: “In 2002, WHO (World Health Organization) estimated that 1.4 million deaths among children under 5 years [are] due to diseases that could have been prevented by routine vaccination.”
Our animated discussion on how immunization works was enlightening. Sec. Duque likened it to an “invader” entering a person’s body and awakening the “soldiers” protecting the immune system to fortify its defenses.
Indeed, a bacteria or germ is introduced into the body during vaccination and the immune system reacts by producing and mobilizing antibodies to attack and defeat the intruder. The memory of the encounter then remains so the immune system can quickly recognize and deal with disease-causing intruders when they eventually invade the body.
A report of the UNICEF explains several types of vaccines now in use: “Some, such as the oral polio vaccine (OPV), are live, “attenuated” vaccines which means the virus has been weakened so that it stimulates antibody production, but does not cause the disease. Others such as the “whole-cell” pertussis vaccine use an inactivated, or killed, virus that still triggers an immune response. Tetanus toxoid (TT), the vaccine that protects mothers and newborns from tetanus, is a detoxified version of the toxin (poison) that causes the disease. A fourth variety of vaccine, such as that for Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), uses only the components of the virus or bacteria that provoke an immune response.”
Immunity, for many diseases, is built up with several doses of the vaccine. For polio and hepatitis B, the WHO recommends that infants must be immunized against these at birth and “the remaining doses of polio vaccine and the combination diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus vaccine (DPT) should be given three times before the age of one: at six weeks, 10 weeks, and 14 weeks.”
Sec. Duque said the various vaccines’ rate of efficacy is at 80-95%. He said such effectiveness rate is already quite high. The proven effectiveness of the vaccines used since the EPI was established in 1976 ought to keep parents from worrying too much over the health of their children.
As for the new anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia that has stirred controversy and alarm recently following a statement by its developer, Sanofi, that the vaccine could lead to “severe dengue” for those who have not been infected with dengue prior to vaccination, Dr. Duque gave some reassurance that the situation might not be as worse as it seems.
He said that of the 800,000 people vaccinated so far, only about 1,600 to 2,000 could be adversely affected and that only 4 to 7% of them could develop severe dengue. He added that “heightened surveillance for symptoms of severe dengue” has been put into effect and that PhilHealth is ready to cover the expenses of any child who may be hospitalized for severe dengue.
“We will continue to be vigilant in monitoring our children for any adverse event following immunization, and will strengthen the readiness of our public hospitals in attending to any severe dengue cases that may occur,” Sec. Duque said. For those still extremely bothered by the risk of severe dengue, he advised calling the following dengue hotlines: 711-1001; 711-1002; 09207725621; and 09201107498.
My talk with the Sec. Duque also focused on other diseases that are the leading causes of death in the Philippines. These include diseases of the heart (top cause), followed by cerebrovascular diseases or stroke, cancer, pneumonia, diabetes, tuberculosis, and kidney disease.
He reiterated that proper diet, regular exercise, and other good lifestyle habits can go a long way in achieving overall good health. He also advised Filipinos to eat and drin k in moderation, especially during this holiday season when the abundance of delicious food can be so tempting that one could forget the risks from heart attack and stroke that are the top killer diseases.
While it is the season to be merry, let us not forget that “health is wealth” and moderation is key to healthy living that leads to happiness. Merry Christmas everyone!