CARMONA CITY, Cavite – Four-hundred-thirty-three senior citizens in this newest city in the province on Monday were given free flu vaccine and Covid-19 booster shot at the Carmona Community Center in Bgy. Cabilang Baybay.

The event was part of the celebration of the Grandparent’s Day to protect the elders from flu-related risks.

Dr. Lulu Bravo, Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV) executive director and Raising Awareness on Influenza to Support Elderlies (RAISE) co-convenor, highlighted the urgency of providing free flu-vaccines to senior citizens.

“’Yung trangkaso kagaya ng COVD, kapag tumama sa elderly ay mas mataas ang chance sa iba’t ibang sakit dahil sila ay nasa vulnerable age. Makakatulong ang mga bakunang ito to save 24 million lives. Ganon po ang inaasahan natin sa mga senior citizens — malusog, nasa labas ng bahay,” said Bravo.

In a media briefing, Department of Health Undersecretary Eric Tayag expressed enthusiasm towards the vaccination program, noting that senior citizens’ vaccination is just as important as the routine childhood programs.

”Malapit na po ang ating bansa sa ageing population, katunayan, may mga batas tayo na nagbibigay ng proteksyon at sinisiguro ang kapakanan ng mga senior citizen,” said Tayag.

Carmona Mayor Dahlia Loyola, a doctor herself, expressed her appreciation to the PFV and the RAISE coalition for bringing the health advocacy outreach program to the city.

The PFV is a non-stock, non-profit organization composed of vaccine advocates that aims to raise awareness and build on the value of vaccination to save lives and has been working with other medical societies to create the RAISE, with a common goal of protecting the elderly Filipinos from influenza and promoting health through civic partnership with the government.

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Dennis Abrina