Free flu vaccine for Parañaque elderly

It was the first time for 72-year-old Yonita Buyoc to avail herself of a flu shot. “Mahalaga ’yun, malaki matitipid,” she said, considering the money she saved from the immunization.

Rosalinda Verdan, 65, along with her husband, made sure to take annual flu shots. “Mahirap kasi magkasakit sa matanda. Hindi ka lang manghihina, malaki pa ang bayad sa gamot. (It’s hard when the elderly gets sick. We just don’t get weak physically; we have to spend more money on medicines.)”

Yonita as well as Rosalinda and her husband were among the 3,428 senior citizens who benefited from the flu immunization provided by the Parañaque city government for the whole month of August as part of its health program for the elderly.

“Ang senior citizens dito sa amin ay alagang alaga. (The senior citizens here are well taken care of),” said Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez as thousands of the elderly lined up for the flu mass immunization across 16 barangay (villages). Olivarez said the senior citizens in the city were provided more assistance such as birthday celebrations, more movie privileges, free hospital services and continuous medical program.

Dr. Olga Virtusio, Parañaque health officer, said: “At their age, they are prone to pneumonia and respiratory tract infections. They also have terrible asthma attacks.” The vaccine prevents the occurrence of complications of influenza, and it increases their immune system. The mass flu immunization was done in partnership with Sanofi Pasteur.