Still unsure about giving your kid the COVID-19 vaccine

Pauleen Luna-Sotto and fellow moms come together with experts to discuss vaccine concerns

 

In a recent online talk show, the Department of Health (DOH), with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Breakthrough ACTION project, brought moms and medical experts together to discuss the importance of COVID-19 vaccines for families, especially for young children. 

 

“Batang Bakunado, Todong Protektado”, hosted by television personality and vaccine advocate Pauleen Luna Sotto, addressed common questions and concerns from parents on the safety and benefits of vaccines. Representatives from parent groups, Moms Support Moms PH, Usapang Nanay PH, and Best Nanay joined the show to share their personal experiences and concerns of fellow moms over the vaccines.

 

“Batang Bakunado, Todong Protektado” talk show hosted by Ms. Pauline Luna-Sotto along with medical experts Dr. Maricar Santos, Dr. Anna Ong-Lim and representatives from different parent groups. 

 

Are the vaccines still necessary?

“When my daughter turned five, I immediately had her vaccinated because she goes to school everyday. For parents, getting their children vaccinated brings a sense of relief. We can’t keep our children inside the house forever,” shared Ms. Luna-Sotto. Pediatric expert Dr. Anna Ong-Lim echoed this, stressing that vaccine coverage for children 5-11 years old continues to lag with only 51.63% of the target population fully vaccinated. 

 

What can we do about vaccine side-effects? 

Dr. Maricar Santos from the DOH shared that more than five million Filipino children have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

Dr. Ong-Lim shared that if side effects are observed, these are common, usually mild, and easily manageable at home with fever medications or a simple cold compress for swelling on the arm. Many local government units will even provide paracetamol after vaccination. “We have all of these safeguards - observation post-vaccination, providing contact numbers, and medications, all to make sure okay ang bata pag uwi,” said Dr. Ong-Lim.

 

What can parents do to keep the world a safe place for their kids?

The moms present shared that the vaccination process was quick and easy for them. With the guidance of their parents, the children themselves understood the benefits of being able to go back to school and play with their friends and families while staying protected. 

 

At the end of the show, moms and medical experts invited fellow parents to stay updated with the best and correct health information through the DOH platforms, so that we all understand why the COVID-19 vaccines are still important for our whole family.

Understanding the importance of testing during the pandemic is the key to protecting the family

Last January 19, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed the first two recorded fatalities, plus an additional 492 COVID-19 cases linked to the more contagious and transmissible Omicron variant. Four days prior to that, Omicron had finally surpassed the Delta variant as the most predominant in the country.

 

As of January 31, the DOH reports that, in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone, the total number of COVID-19 cases is already over 1.1 million.

 

The stress and pressure caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the Philippine healthcare system, as well as the crippling effect it has on individuals, family units, and communities, has led to a re-emphasis in the campaign for COVID-19 testing. 

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), testing is essential in stopping the spread of the virus because it helps correctly identify and diagnose patients, and allows caretakers and medical providers to give them the treatments they need. In turn, the DOH continues to encourage the public to get tested as soon as symptoms of COVID-19 occur, especially in individuals who are part of the vulnerable population.

 

New World Diagnostics Inc. (NWDI) is one of the country’s leading diagnostics laboratories, providing comprehensive and automated COVID-19 testing services, such as the RT-PCR Swab test and the Antigen test. It is also one of the few molecular laboratories certified by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) to conduct RT-PCR Saliva testing.

 

Aside from in-clinic services, NWDI also offers home services, making it possible for individuals who may be constrained to stay home to get tested, too.

 

“NWDI is well aware of the critical role diagnostic laboratories play during this time of the pandemic,” said President and CEO Maria Estella Diokno. “In spite of the surge [in cases], NWDI’s Molecular Laboratory has continuously strived to deliver the best service and timely turnaround time of results to all our patients.”

 

The Oropharyngeal and Nasopharyngeal Swab are the recommended collection methods of the RT-PCR test, since it gives more reliable results. Patient preparations for this are fairly simple. It is highly advised to wear a mask to an RT-PCR Swab test appointment, and patients must also be mentally prepared for possible discomfort as the swab is being collected.

 

For saliva-based RT-PCR tests, the DOH released guidelines that state the best sample to collect is the morning saliva of the patient, and that patients should not eat, drink, brush their teeth, use mouthwash or smoke for at least 30 minutes prior to the test.

 

“COVID-19 testing is not something to be afraid of or worried about,” Diokno stressed. “Instead, look at COVID-19 testing as a tool that can help the government and medical institutions assess the state of the country, as well as an opportunity to keep your loved ones safe and protected from the COVID-19 virus.”

 

To learn more about New World Diagnostics Inc.’s COVID-19 testing packages and services, as well as other diagnostics services they offer, visit their website at https://www.nwdi.com.ph/. For Customer Service, you may contact them at 8790-8888 or 0917-706-5706, or email them at customerservice@nwdi.com.ph. You can also follow NWDI on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/nwdiofficial/.

McDonald’s Philippines purchases close to 100,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, to vaccinate employees for free

Golden Arches Development Corporation (GADC) or McDonald’s Philippines purchased close to 100,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses from AstraZeneca in its continued commitment to the health and safety of its people, and in support of the government’s national vaccination program. 

 

Half of the total doses will be donated to the government and administered by the Department of Health (DOH) in accordance to the government’s allocation framework and priority guidelines.

As one of several private companies who have committed to secure the vaccine, McDonald’s Philippines President and CEO, Kenneth S. Yang believes that the vaccine is the country’s best bet in winning the battle against COVID-19 that’ll protect the lives and livelihood of Filipinos.  

 

“With the health and safety of people being our top priority, we will be providing the COVID-19 vaccine for free for our frontliners--crew and managers, in all company-owned restaurants nationwide. It is our responsibility to keep our people safe so that our customers will be too” Yang added.

 

The company’s vaccination program for its employees will be in compliance with all government protocols. 

 

Since the announcement of the enhanced community quarantine last year, McDonald’s has consistently supported the government’s T3 (Test. Trace. Treat.) programs. 

 

Under its M Safe program, the QSR giant complied with safety protocols such as wearing of face masks and face shields, more frequent handwashing, practicing social distancing, and introduced new protocols like dedicating a Safety Manager and implementing a no-touch policy for Drive-Thru and McDelivery services including cashless payment. 

 

To further its commitment to the safety of people, the company also initiated mass testing to ensure a safe workplace for its employees and a safe dining experience for all customers. McDonald’s also adopted the usage of the IATF-endorsed Stay Safe PH national tracing system for contact tracing. 

 

McDonald’s has also participated in a consumer confidence campaign called “Ingat Angat”, with other members from the private sector, which aims to slowly revitalize the economy safely. Beyond these, McDonald’s has also launched the Kindness Kitchen program which has served over 400,000 meals and continuously provides food to front liners and communities most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Dengvaxia: The world's first anti-dengue vaccine

In April, the Department of Health (DOH) launched the first school-based dengue immunization program on Monday with around 250 Grade 4 students of Parang Elementary School in Marikina City.

The DOH chose Grade 4 students from the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon four regions with the highest number of dengue cases.

The vaccine called Dengvaxia, took scientists 20 years to develop and is considered the world’s first anti-dengue vaccine, and the Philippines is the first country where it is commercially available.

Dengue is a high-motile and ongoing public health concern in the Philippines. The first known epidemic of severe dengue or dengue hemorrhagic fever anywhere in the world was recorded in Manila in 1953.1 By the mid 19705 severe dengue had become a leading cause of hospitalization and death among children in the region 2 Between 2004 and 2010, the Philippines experienced the seventh highest number of dengue cases in the world according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

In 2013, DOH reported 204,906 cases of dengue, the highest number recorded since the establishment of the National Dengue Prevention and Control Program in 1993. More than 200,000 dengue cases were reported in the Philippines in 2015, 80,000 more than were reported in 2014. In both September and October 2015, the number of reported cases rose above the epidemic threshold. d

Although the number of reported dengue cases slightly decreased in 2014, the 2015 data suggest an increasing trend in cases in the coming years. Recent data gathered by the Department of Health from January to 24 September this year shows an increase of 11.5 percent year on year across the country, with t otal dengue Infections at 142,247 compared to 127,525 last year and 604 recorded fatalities.

Based on Philippine surveillance data collected between 2011 and 2015, an average of 220 dengue cases were reported in the country every day.8 In 2015, almost 50% of reported cases came from three most urbanized regions Region 3 (17.6%), Region 4 (17.3%), and the National Capital Region (12.6%).9 Cases stemming from all four serotypes of dengue were reported in 2015.

Disease burden: US$345 million per year

The economic burden of dengue in the Philippines is substantial. A study published in 2015 estimated that between 2008 and 2012. clinically diagnosed dengue cases in the Philippines were associated with a direct medical cost (in 2012 US dollars) of $345 million annually. The study calculated the average cost of treatment per case to be $409, representing 16% of the Philippines’ 2012 per capita GDP. Sixty-live percent of cases were treated in inpatient hospitals, representing 90% of direct costs.

In addition to dengue‘s burden on a household, the illness can adversely impact a country’s economy through a loss of productivity caused by the illness and pre-mature death, increased healthcare costs and a possible reduction in tourism.

DENGVAXIA THE FIRST DENGUE VACCINE (Source)

Sanofi Pasteur’s vaccine is the culmination of over two decades of scientific innovation and collaboration, as well as 25 clinical studies in 15 countries around the world. Over 40,000 volunteers participated in the Sanofi Pasteur dengue vaccine clinical study program (phase I, II and III), of whom, 29,000 volunteers received the vaccine. Dengvaxia successfully completed phase III clinical studies in 2014 to evaluate the primary objective of vaccine efficacy.

Long-term follow-up studies of the vaccine, recommended by WHO for all dengue vaccines in development, are currently ongoing. Additional pooled efficacy and integrated safety analyses from the 25-month Phase III efficacy studies and the ongoing long-term studies, respectively, were recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine reconfirming the vaccine’s consistent efficacy and longer-term safety profile in populations 9 years of age and older. In a pooled efficacy analysis in volunteers aged 9-16 who participated in the two Phase III 25-month efficacy studies, Dengvaxia was shown to reduce dengue due to all four serotypes in two-thirds of the participants. Furthermore, this pooled efficacy analysis showed that Dengvaxia prevented 9 out of 10 cases of severe dengue and 8 out 10 hospitalizations due to dengue in this age group.

Dengvaxia is the first vaccine licensed for the prevention of dengue in the world. First doses of the vaccine have been produced and full scale production capacity will be reaching 100 million vaccine doses annually.

Seasonality and global climate change

Dengue has become a year-round threat in the Philippines. However, data suggests that the number of dengue cases increases one to two months after the onset ofthe rainy season, resulting in a peak of dengue cases between July and November each year.13

The Philippines is severely affected by extreme weather events and is vulnerable to the effects of climate change Vector-borne diseases like dengue may be particularly sensitive to both periodic tiuctuations and sustained changes in global and local climates.“ Additionally, a study examining data from eight Asian countries including the Philippines over 18 years revealed a strong correlation between regional dengue epidemics and elevated temperatures associated with El Nino.

In a recent vaccine cost-effectiveness study performed by Professor Hilton Lam of the UP-National Institute of Health, a nationwide annual routine vaccination of nine year olds starting in 2016 would lead to an estimated 24.2 reduction in dengue cases in the country over a five year period. This would translate to 775,053 avoided cases of dengue, 502,000 avoided hospitalizations, 22,010 avoid deaths and almost P21 billion in avoided cost to society.