Makati City steps up anti-flu vaccination drive

Makati City has launched a citywide anti-influenza (flu) vaccination program for young students in all public schools and city government employees to curb the number of flu cases.

The Makati Health Department (MHD) led by Dr. Bernard Sese started administering the quadrivalent flu vaccine, which covers four strains of the flu virus, to public school students from kindergarten to grade six,

Makati City Mayor Abby Binay said the program is aimed at minimizing hospitalization and complications which accompany the flu, especially during the rainy season.

“The flu is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death. Apart from the physical and financial burden of being sick, children who contract the flu virus are unable to go to school while adults need to be absent from work. This hampers productivity and inconveniences family members and co-workers,” Mayor Binay explained.

The quadrivalent flu vaccine is administered through a single intramuscular injection and is given once a year.

Children who will be receiving the vaccine for the first time will be given a second dose after four weeks to maximize the vaccine’s effects.

According to Dr. Sese, influenza, commonly known as flu, is a contagious viral infection caused by Influenza A or B virus.

The virus affects both the upper and lower respiratory tract such as the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs.

It spreads from person to person through the air by coughing, sneezing or talking and by touching a contaminated person’s hands, surface or object.