Marilyn Cahatol

Health workers administer flu and pneumonia vaccines to 75-year-old Lolita Espiritu as part of their community vaccination drive in Barangay Pembo, Makati City on August 12, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

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ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176095219124120200812-makati-community-vaccine-GC-DSCF1073.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Health workers administer flu and pneumonia vaccines to 75-year-old Lolita Espiritu as part of their community vaccination drive in Barangay Pembo, Makati City on August 12, 2020. <em>George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) said there is <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/10/14/doh-says-no-flu-outbreak-amid-class-suspension-in-ncr-2158">no flu outbreak</a>, as it <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/10/15/-wala-pong-outbreak-doh-clarifies-flu-cases-within-normal-range-2157">recorded </a>a total of 127,749 cases of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) nationwide this year, as of Oct. 4.</p><p>In a Facebook post, the agency said 6,457 cases of ILI were recorded from Sept. 28 to Oct. 11, 39 percent lower than the 10,740 cases from Sept. 14 to 27. </p><p>But classes in several areas in the Philippines were still <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/10/12/deped-suspends-oct-13-14-onsite-classes-in-ncr-amid-rising-influenza-like-cases-1802">suspended</a> in the previous days.</p><p>Some schools and municipalities, like Marikina City, called it a &quot;health break.&quot; The Department of Education - National Capital Region also initially cited the rising cases for the suspension, and later <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/10/13/deped-says-2-day-class-suspensions-in-ncr-a-preventive-measure-2030">clarified </a>it as a &quot;preventive measure.&quot; </p><p>On Oct. 19, the<a href="https://www.facebook.com/abscbnNEWS/posts/pfbid02i8MyYgHgoWC6vCWZCyXcfkzMH1WpySwqkbcXBxva1Nj3sRXicPq3N3H3mL4tdFbYl?__cft__[0]=AZVDCfv-ZKW3jQ9ChnilOD4Q6hlOCidlfnbOCUsubdWqdE4jnVMfC6VtRdX9b7fQeUGpBfKzCTWj4cmFvpgmvqjL2GCFtHywJPhup0PDrV5-uMEePLx4hBoiHJwUs3QkhHTnt2POpCxST9I3av10LgJjoEbbek3LrvFQtqhs1T_Fml8ZMJ5BJRlNjpTisn1lB28&amp;__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R"> Quezon province local government</a> has already mandated the use of face masks indoors and in places where social distancing cannot be observed.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/10/17/doh-denies-lockdown-due-to-flu-like-illnesses-1345">DOH denies lockdown due to influenza-like illnesses</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT IS INFLUENZA AND ITS VACCINE</strong></div><p>The symptoms of influenza, more commonly known as flu, are high fever, muscle ache/joint pain, chills, runny/stuffy nose, dry cough, fatigue/tiredness, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, sore throat and headache, <a href="https://ritm.gov.ph/ritmliveoninfluenza/">according </a>to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.</p><p>The research institute said influenza is transmitted from one person to another through droplet transmission while coughing, sneezing, or talking within six feet distance.</p><p>Based on RITM, senior citizens, pregnant women, children, people with asthma, heart problems, stroke, diabetes, with kidney diseases, and other persons with disability are the most at risk of catching flu.</p><p>While most influenza cases experience mild symptoms, some lead to severe illnesses, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1358317182531272&amp;set=a.782920603404269">said </a>the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID).</p><p>Some flu-related complications include Pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, and ear infections, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/current-vis/downloads/flu.pdf">based </a>on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).</p><p>Aside from wearing face masks, the PSMID suggested getting vaccinated against influenza every year to protect oneself from flu.</p><p><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-types/trivalent.html">According </a>to CDC,<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-types/trivalent.html"> </a>influenza vaccine may be trivalent or quadrivalent. Trivalent flu vaccine protects an individual from three influenza viruses: Influenza A(H1N1) virus, Influenza A(H3N2) virus, and Influenza B/Victoria lineage virus. Quadrivalent flu vaccine, meanwhile, protects the body from the same three and B/Yamagata lineage virus.</p><p>CDC, however, noted that the influenza B/Yamagata lineage virus has not been detected by global flu surveillance since March 2020.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHERE AND HOW MUCH</strong></div><p>Flu vaccination is <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/1/16/pagbabakuna-ng-mga-lgu-kontra-trangkaso-puspusan-1918">free for indigent senior citizens</a> in all Centers for Health Development (CHD) under the Department of Health (DOH), local health centers, and government-managed centers and residential institutions for senior citizens.</p><p>In January this year, DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/10/19/psgs-marks-15th-year-of-advocacy-run-for-breast-cancer-awareness-1906">said </a>the agency is procuring more influenza vaccines for senior citizens. </p><p>Flu vaccination may also be included in Health Maintenance Organizations&#x27; (HMOs) benefits. Some accounts may only be offering vaccination for the principal members, while others may be expanding the benefit to dependents, <a href="https://www.maxicare.com.ph/best-care/flu-vaccination-faqs/">according </a>to healthcare benefit provider Maxicare.</p><p>Aside from this, many private institutions also offer influenza vaccines and the administration service priced at P850 and above.</p><p>Drugstore <a href="https://www.mercurydrug.com/vaccination_terms-and-conditions.html">Mercury Drug</a> offers quadrivalent and trivalent flu vaccines at P850 for individuals aged 18 years old and above.</p><p>The drugstore requires a doctor’s prescription given within the week of availing the service. Those with no prescription may still receive the vaccine if the onsite doctor sees them fit to be vaccinated.</p><p>Both <a href="https://www.mercurydrug.com/vaccination_terms-and-conditions.html">Watsons </a>and <a href="https://store.hi-precision.com.ph/products/flu-vaccinequadrivalent">Hi-Precision Diagnostics</a> offer quadrivalent flu vaccine at P900 and P1,450, respectively. While a doctor’s prescription is not required in these institutions, doctors would assess if a patient is fit to be vaccinated.</p><p>Individuals interested in availing for flu vaccine may make an online appointment on their websites. </p><div> </div><div><strong>VACCINE HESITANCY</strong></div><p>Despite the recent surge of influenza-like cases in the Philippines, vaccine hesitancy remains rampant on the ground due to several reasons, including the inaccessibility of the vaccines among Filipino families and the lack of awareness of the severity of influenza, according to a <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10657514/">study</a>.  </p><p>It added that the 2017 Dengvaxia controversy also contributed to the public’s hesitancy to receive vaccination. The controversy sparked when DOH implemented a vaccination program against dengue among students using a vaccine later proven to put previously uninfected individuals at higher risk of severe dengue fever.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/1/30/vaccine-hesitancy-main-challenge-in-increasing-fully-immunized-children-doh-1716">Vaccine hesitancy main challenge in increasing fully-immunized children: DOH</a></div><p>Dalmacito Cordero Jr., the study’s author and professor at De La Salle University, suggested that the government utilize mass media to disseminate health information, as well as clarify the Dengvaxia controversy to restore the public’s trust in vaccines.</p><p>He added that there should also be sufficient government budget to provide free flu vaccines, not just for indigent senior citizens, but to all age groups.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/7/15/un-alarmed-as-childhood-immunization-levels-stall-1038">UN alarmed as childhood immunization levels stall</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PSDkCO7G-nI?si=z9Ji8stBofbSIfw5" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Flu vaccination is free for indigent senior citizens in all Centers for Health Development (CHD) under the Department of Health (DOH), local health centers, and government-managed centers and residential institutions for senior citizens.</p>

Flu vaccination is free for indigent senior citizens in all Centers for Health Development (CHD) under the Department of Health (DOH), local health centers, and government-managed centers and residential institutions for senior citizens.

How to get influenza vaccine this flu season

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How to get influenza vaccine this flu season

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published Oct 20, 2025 09:39 PM PHT

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Influenza-like illnesses

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