PhilHealth, MSD boost pneumonia vaccination

MANILA, Philippines - Tackling the challenge of pneumonia on a national level, PhilHealth and global healthcare company MSD have launched “60+ na ako at OKs ang bakuna ko laban sa pulmonya” which allows elderly (lifetime) PhilHealth members to more easily avail themselves of the vaccine against pneumococcal disease.

Starting this month, the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine will be made more accessible to PhilHealth Lifetime members at a discounted rate of at least 60 percent, resulting in only P600.

PhilHealth Lifetime members are those who have reached the age of retirement and have made at least 120 monthly contributions to Medicare/PhilHealth.

The program is also supported by a public information campaign to improve the health-seeking behavior of those at risk of acquiring pneumococcal disease by promoting the importance of vaccination in preventing pneumococcal infection.

The campaign also seeks to inform members on the benefits of being a PhilHealth Lifetime member.

The health campaign is aimed at the PhilHealth Lifetime members, aged 60 and above, the age group most vulnerable to pneumococcal infections and serious complications such as pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs), bacteremia (presence of infection in the blood), and meningitis (inflammation of the brain).

Streptococcus pneumoniae has been reported as the most common bacterial cause of community-acquired pneumonia. Though vaccine-preventable, invasive pneumococcal disease remains a top cause of hospitalization and mortality cases among the elderly worldwide, with most deaths occurring in developing countries like the Philippines.

Pneumococcal vaccines provide protection against the most prevalent and invasive serotypes of this organism. In the United States, vaccination against pneumococcal pneumonia has been linked to a decrease in the incidence of the disease among the elderly.

The immunization initiative of PhilHealth and MSD reaffirms the public-private partnership of the two organizations in promoting accessible health care to Filipinos. This partnership will particularly benefit Filipino senior citizens who have made significant contributions to the nation and who continue to impart guidance and support to their families.

The public is encouraged to activate their PhilHealth Lifetime membership and learn more about how to get the most out of their PhilHealth membership.

PhilHealth Lifetime members may avail themselves of the pneumococcal vaccine by going to the nearest PhilHealth-accredited hospital designated as vaccine access points (VAPs). For more details, call the PhilHealth call center at 441-7442.