The saying “better be safe than sorry” couldn’t be truer than in the case of the dreaded dengue which is an endemic disease to tropical countries like the Philippines. There have been many cases of death but this need not happen needlessly because dengue is highly preventable through vaccination.
You can always ask your school, company or family doctor about being immunized against dengue. And the good news is that even the friendly mall store Watsons has announced scheduled immunization dates in select branches nationwide.
Watsons has teamed up with leading pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur in administering the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia to those who might be interested.
The dengue vaccination, to be taken in three doses at 0 – 6 – 12 months interval, can protect the individual from all four strains of the dengue virus. It is suitable for people aged 9 to 45 years old.
The vaccines will cost P4000 per dose or P12000 for all 3 doses. This doesn’t come cheap, in my opinion, and should be incorporated well in budget if all family members are going to be immunized. The reward of course is peace of mind and protection from serious illness or even death.
According to Dr. Rontgene Solante, past president of the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID), vaccine-preventable diseases are some of the most dangerous around, and this is why vaccination is called for.
As such, getting vaccinated is one of the most important decisions you can make for your health, Dr. Solante said.
“It is like deciding to take up exercise or eating a balanced diet, or getting regular checkups.Vaccines are one of the simplest, most convenient, and safest preventive care measures available,” he added.
The first scheduled dengue vaccination at Watsons will be on April 30, 2017 (1st dose), October 29, 2017 (2nd dose) and April 29, 2018 (3rd dose). The second scheduled dengue vacation will be on May 14, 2017 (1st dose), November 12, 2017 (2nd dose), May 13, 2018 (3rd dose). This will be available in more than 100 stores nationwide.
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