But this doesn’t mean that we become invincible and will never be infected by these contagious viruses (once given the immunization). To understand more about vaccination, chickenpox and typhoid fever, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a leading pharmaceutical company that manufactures innovative medicines and vaccines, conducted a media information session on the said topics recently.

Held at the GSK Building in Pasong Tamo Extension, GSK invited experts Dr. Marimel Reyes-Pagcatipunan, a pediatric infection disease specialist; Dr. Anna Lisa Ong-Lim, an associate professor and attending pediatrician at the Philippine General Hospital and the University of the Philippines-Manila; and Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the Department of Health’s National Epidemiology Center.

Value of Vaccines

We all know that vaccines have done wonders for the world: eradicated smallpox, eliminated polio (in the western hemisphere), controlled measles, and dramatically reduced new cases of various diseases. In fact, according to research, six million deaths are prevented and 750,000 children are saved from disability every year due to immunization. Then again, this is not enough.

According to Dr. Pagcatipunan, many children as well as adults are still not getting the proper vaccinations due to the limited health benefits provided by their health cards and the high cost of vaccinations. And so, the Department of Health and pharmaceutical companies like GSK are doing their best to provide free vaccination to the public, especially to those who can’t afford it.

And so GSK, which is committed to improving the quality of human life, distributed more than 1.1 billion doses of vaccines to 169 developed and developing countries in 2006 (an average of 3 million doses a day). Of those vaccine doses, approximately 136 million were doses of combination pediatric vaccines which protect the world’s children from up to six diseases in one vaccine.

he invention of vaccines is no doubt one of the greatest accomplishments of medical science. Without these medical preparations that provide immunity from various diseases, our society would still be struggling to fight smallpox, polio, tetanus, measles, and other deadly illnesses to this day.

But this doesn’t mean that we become invincible and will never be infected by these contagious viruses (once given the immunization). To understand more about vaccination, chickenpox and typhoid fever, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a leading pharmaceutical company that manufactures innovative medicines and vaccines, conducted a media information session on the said topics recently.

Held at the GSK Building in Pasong Tamo Extension, GSK invited experts Dr. Marimel Reyes-Pagcatipunan, a pediatric infection disease specialist; Dr. Anna Lisa Ong-Lim, an associate professor and attending pediatrician at the Philippine General Hospital and the University of the Philippines-Manila; and Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the Department of Health’s National Epidemiology Center.

Value of Vaccines

We all know that vaccines have done wonders for the world: eradicated smallpox, eliminated polio (in the western hemisphere), controlled measles, and dramatically reduced new cases of various diseases. In fact, according to research, six million deaths are prevented and 750,000 children are saved from disability every year due to immunization. Then again, this is not enough.

According to Dr. Pagcatipunan, many children as well as adults are still not getting the proper vaccinations due to the limited health benefits provided by their health cards and the high cost of vaccinations. And so, the Department of Health and pharmaceutical companies like GSK are doing their best to provide free vaccination to the public, especially to those who can’t afford it.

And so GSK, which is committed to improving the quality of human life, distributed more than 1.1 billion doses of vaccines to 169 developed and developing countries in 2006 (an average of 3 million doses a day). Of those vaccine doses, approximately 136 million were doses of combination pediatric vaccines which protect the world’s children from up to six diseases in one vaccine.

GSK Philippines also launched its Value Health program in 2004 which provides more Filipinos with access to original GSK innovative brands at reduced prices. What’s more, GSK is implementing a global project to eliminate the parasite-borne disease LF or elephantiasis, in partnership with the Department of Health and other private sectors.

GSK markets over 25 vaccines worldwide to prevent potentially life-threatening or crippling illnesses such as hepatitis A & B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, measles, mumps, rubella, polio, typhoid, influenza, and bacterial meningitis.

Chickenpox & Typhoid Alert

Though vaccines are the most effective intervention in reducing the return of infectious diseases, Dr. Lim points out that individuals who already had it in the past still are not guaranteed 100 percent immunity from the disease. However, with proper vaccination, we can be sure that we will have fewer permanent disabilities, shorter periods of suffering, and milder problems.

Then again, the doctors warn us to be extra careful these days because chickenpox is particularly potent during the dry season, between March and May. At the same time, water-borne diseases are also common due to contaminated pipes and low water pressure, not to mention the outbreak of typhoid fever in Laguna and Samar. We can never too sure what can happen during this season, so we have to be aware of the causes and symptoms of diseases.