Illness a co-infection of flu, COVID-19

MEDICAL experts and the Metro Manila head of the Federation of Senior Citizens Association have reiterated their urgent call for a stronger and more intensive government flu vaccination program amid the latest surge in COVID-19 and rainy-day disease cases.

Due to the emergence of “flurona,” the name coined for the co-infection of flu and COVID-19, healthcare experts see the need to increase vaccination efforts against both viruses.

“Meron tayong mga instrumento na pwedeng gamitin para labanan at maiwasan ang trangkaso,” shared infectious disease expert Dr. Arthur Dessi Roman in a forum with veteran journalist Jing Castañeda on her weekly online program, Okay, Doc.

“Ang maganda sa flu at sa COVID-19, pareho silang may bakuna para maiwasan itong dalawang sakit na ‘to,” reminds Dr. Roman.

Dr. Jennifer Wi, Head of the TB Assembly of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology, gave more insights on the serious threat of influenza. She cited statistics from the World Health Organization: one billion people get infected by the virus every year, and 650,000 die due to severe complications from the flu, such as pneumonia, organ failure, and heart attacks.

She emphasized that getting co-infected with flurona would be highly disastrous, should the individual be unvaccinated against either virus.

“Mababa ang resistensiya so prone na siya sa bacterial infection. And, pagsumama ang bacterial and viral infection, that’s a catastrophic event for us,” said Dr. Wi when asked about the risks of co-infection.

Dr. Roman stated that the easiest, most effective, and most preventive measure against viruses of any sort is to get vaccinated as soon as possible. He recommends that everyone older than six months of age get vaccinated against the flu yearly.

“Gawin natin bahagi ng culture of safety and protection ang pagbabakuna. Kung tayo po ay nag-seseatbelt tuwing nagda-drive, kailangan gawin din natin bahagi ang pagbabakuna as part of regularly protecting ourselves.”

For his part, Jorge Banal, President of the NCR chapter of the Federation of Senior Citizen Association of the Philippines, echoed this in the discussion to address the increased vaccine hesitancy within the senior citizen population in the country.

He shared that most are scared of the side effects, but reminded his fellow senior citizens that the vaccines are safe and protect against the more dangerous effects of the virus.

He also shared his personal experience of being fully vaccinated against multiple diseases, and encouraged other families to do the same as getting vaccinated greatly lessens the risk of getting infected and infecting fellow household members.

Banal highlighted the advocacies and programs that the LGU and FSCAP employ to persuade members of their community to get vaccinated, such as going house to house or showing the positive effects of vaccination to their members.

“Kami sa FSCAP at sa mga ibang pederasyon ay nagkakampanya sa aming mga miyembro. Pinapadama namin sa kanila na kami ay nabakunahan na at kailangan sila ay magpabakuna na rin,” shared Banal.