A shot of health for Christmas

You cannot be faulted if you think that this is about spiked eggnog, warm apple cider made potent by a generous portion of vodka, or some other intoxicating alcoholic brew. It is the Christmas season after all, a time of feasting when glasses are raised to drink to good health and prosperity of family and friends. However, the "shot" that is referred to here pertains to, yes, an injection. In this season of crowded shopping malls, numerous parties and jampacked public transport, one runs a greater risk of contracting a community-acquired respiratory infection. Thus, gift-givers may opt to give the practical, albeit non-traditional present: a vaccination to prevent disease.

Although we tend to be very diligent about the vaccination schedules of our children, we somehow overlook the necessity of protecting ourselves. In these times when we are more likely to be exposed to crowds, the possibility of acquiring a pneumococcal disease is heightened. After all, the noses and throats of up to 70 percent of healthy people contain Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria at any given time. Since bacteria are spread from person to person, presumably via respiratory droplet contact, you can imagine what you risk catching if an infected person sneezes in a crowd.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common cause of pneumonia. In children, it may result in otitis media, invasive bacterial infections including bloodstream infections (bacteremia, sepsis) and meningitis. Clearly, it is prudent to be vaccinated against the disease when one ventures out to join the holiday crowd.

At a conference sponsored by the pharmaceutical company Wyeth in Kuala Lumpur recently, Dr. Yhu Chering Huang, professor of pediatrics at Chang Gung University and chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan, discussed the importance of vaccination as a means of preventing the onset of harmful and potentially deadly diseases. The significance of vaccination against pneumococcal disease as a preventive measure was explained to a group of journalists from several Asian countries. The disease is considered one of the world’s top killers, accounting for an estimated 1.6 million deaths each year.

"Vaccination is one of the greatest public health interventions," said Dr. Huang, citing that many historically deadly diseases have been eradicated because of worldwide vaccination programs.

He explained that aside from stimulating an immune response, vaccines also improve "immunological memory." Simply put, the immune system can recognize pathogens faster during subsequent exposures and produce antibodies to fight these. And thus, vaccination reduces disease incidence and ultimately, health-care costs. 

A shot is all it takes to avoid the physical difficulties of prolonged illness and the financial drain of expensive antibiotics prescribed to treat pneumonia. The disease may begin with severe chill that is usually followed by high fever, cough, shortness of breath, chest pains, and rapid breathing. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, tiredness, and muscle aches. Aside from children, at high risk from the negative effects of pneumococcal infection are the elderly, those with chronic lung, heart or liver disease, sickle-cell anemia sufferers, transplant patients, and people who are taking medicines that lower resistance to infection.

Dr. Lulu C. Bravo, chief of Pediatric Infectious Disease at the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines and vice chancellor for Research and executive director of the National Institute of Health, UP Manila, says that vaccinations provide the paradigm shift from the curative trend to measures for preventing disease. "Vaccines give evidence-based protection," says Dr. Bravo. "They really can save lives."

Although numerical statistics are unavailable, pneumonia is a top killer disease in the Philippines . Consequently, the vaccine is a valuable adjunct to maintaining good health. And thus, a vaccination for a Christmas present makes good sense.

Yet, a child who gets an injection as his only gift this season cannot be blamed for throwing a Titanic-sized tantrum. Forget about yuletide cheer, peace, and goodwill. The gift-giver will be on his hate list for a very long time. So perhaps, aside from the vaccination, kids are entitled to other special goodies, too.

On the other hand, adults who are generally more discerning can understand that you care enough for them to consider their health and well-being as paramount concerns. For them, a vaccination could be a gift that would be valued and appreciated. The gift of good health for the New Year is always a welcome blessing.

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  Ask your doctor about the vaccine that will protect you against Streptococcus pneumoniae and its complications.