Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Representative Bernadette Herrera wants to utilize the country’s excess flu shots to protect Filipinos from the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).
Citing that the deadly infection causes similar symptoms to the flu, Herrera shares that medical researchers recommend that flu vaccines can serve as a “bystander immunity” against the COVID-19 as well.
“Better to have some protection than no protection at all. This would apply especially to children and young teenagers who are not in the age range of the vaccines with emergency use authorization,” the Deputy Speaker urged.
“May mga suplay na po tayo ng flu vaccines sa mga ospital. Hindi na kailangang bumili ng bago. Kailangang isiwalat ngayon ng DOH kung ilan pa ng suplay nila ng flu vaccines na maaaring i-roll-out sa mga health frontliners, kabataan, at senior citizens,” she noted.
Aside from flu shots, influenza, measles, and polio vaccines are also available to the public.
On Thursday, Australian think tank group Lowy Institute put Philippines on the 79th spot out of 98 countries in terms of COVID-19 response.
The national COVID-19 cases as of January 28 stands at 518,407 with 32,384 active cases, 475,542 recoveries, and 10,481 deaths.