Category Archives: Health Advisory

Pneumonia vaccines in health centers soon

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The Department of Health announced that its program on immunization will now include free immunization against pneumonia in children. It will be available in health centers as part of the DOH Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).

“We are introducing the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) to the Philippine vaccination program for infants,”Health Secretary Enrique Ona disclosed.

According to the Philippines Health Statistics of 2010, pneumonia ranks as the #2 leading cause of infant mortality in 2010 which accounts for 2,628 deaths.

“Pneumonia can cost up to P23, 500 for hospitalization, including professional fee, consultation, laboratory tests and medication,” the health chief said. The vaccine costs P2, 050.00 per full vaccination (3 doses of the PCV) per child.

ARMM and CARAGA, will be the first recipients of the PCV. Additional regions will be included every year for administration of pneumococcal vaccines until 100% of the regions are covered.

Regions, ARMM and CARAGA, ranked #13 among the regions with high number of pneumonia cases.

CARAGA was chosen for initial PCV implementation to complement the Rotavirus vaccination that started in July 2012. Same region was selected as the site for the impact study on the rotavirus vaccination which will end on 2014.

The vaccine will be given to 333,000 infants aged between six (6) months to 11 months old residing in the provinces and cities of CARAGA and the Autonomous Regions for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). These infants represent the 14% of the 2.4 million target infants nationwide.

“This is part of our goal to achieve better health outcomes and meet our health-related Millennium Development Goals by strengthening existing public health programs, such as expanding immunization interventions,” Ona concluded.

The DOH Expanded Program on Immunization provides FREE vaccines that protect infants and children from the common vaccine preventable diseases. Vaccines include BCG for childhood tuberculosis, rotavirus vaccine, measles-mumps-rubella vaccines (MMR), polio vaccine, and pentavalent vaccine which is a combination of Diphtheria-Pertusis-Tetanus-Hepatitis B-Haemophilus influenza vaccines.

It Pays To Be Healthy

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This post brought to you by Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

The old adage that says “health is wealth” rings true now, more than ever. With the constant rise in prices of medication, medical procedures and hospitalization, one would actually consider it true wealth if all the members of the family are in tip top condition and they are spending hard-earned money on basic needs and commodities instead of cashing out on hospital bills and doctor’s prescription.

To bear in mind that “an ounce of prevention is better than cure” is something every family ought to practice. Instilling a habit to live a healthier life earlier on would prove most beneficial to you and your children. So, for starters, exercise and eat a healthy, well-balanced diet. Do not forget to stock up vitamins and healthy supplements, as well. This will save you so much more expensive illness-related expenses in the future. And while you’re at it, you might as well sign up for Prescription Savings Club at Walgreens to avail of huge discounts on prescription drugs for whenever the need for them arises. Subscribing to Walgreens on Twitter would also prove worthwhile so you will get on-the-go information on the hottest deals and promos. Checking Walgreens on Facebook might also be a good avenue to post your queries or clarifications, as well as read news and updates. Remember, it does pay to be healthy and you owe to yourself and your family.

Welcome 2012 with a Bang!

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You can enjoy the loudest bang of a firecracker to welcome the New Year without spending a centavo or putting yourselves in danger due to firecracker explosion.

Yes, this is possible through the world’s safest firecracker in the world. This was just launched by the Department of Health. It’s for free so you don’t need to pay for it with any type of ach payment to enjoy the loud bang of a firecracker minus the risk of getting burn caused by accidental explosion.

It’s just you and your SFX or sound effects of the safest firecracker experience. You can choose the sound of an exploding Super Lolo or listen to the sound of the fireworks symphony as you celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Go visit doh.gov.ph to see what I’m talking about or you can simply check  safestfirecracker.com. Have fun and welcome the New Year safely.