Health expert seeks pandemic preparedness plan

The Manila Times

Health expert seeks pandemic preparedness plan  Dr. Lulu Bravo, executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, calls on the government to adopt a pandemic preparedness plan to help the country better prepare for future pandemics. Speaking to The Manila Times at the sidelines of the seminar-workshop on catch up vaccination and life-course immunization in Manila on Thursday, November 30, 2023, Bravo encouraged the public to mask up and to get their flu shots as cases of influenza-like illnesses are on the rise.  Video by Catherine Valente  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe   Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net   Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion   Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital   Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein  #themanilatimes  #tmtnews  #fluseason  #influenza

Transcript

00:00 You know, our flu season is usually between August, September, October.

00:07 That's what we call the flu season.

00:10 And the cases are really increasing.

00:13 So it's important that we have surveillance.

00:17 And the fact that it's possible that we have measures to prevent transmission.

00:24 Like hand washing, wearing a mask, if you have a cold, don't mix with others, wear a mask.

00:34 So that it won't spread.

00:36 But it happens, seasonal variation of flu.

00:40 And I hope that we have immunity so that it won't spread.

00:47 Because you know, that's why there are outbreaks. When you have a flu, it's something new or mutant.

00:55 That's where the pandemic occurs.

00:57 It means that a new virus or mutant will emerge that people don't have immunity to.

01:06 So it's easier to spread.

01:11 And that's what outbreaks are all about.

01:15 We saw SARS-CoV-2 emerge during the pandemic.

01:19 It's not like it used to be.

01:22 So we just need to know how to respond, how to be prepared for these kinds of situations.

01:31 And that's what WHO is recommending.

01:35 I'm not the one recommending that we do have this.

01:39 But I think our government is doing something.

01:42 It's important because people want to know.

01:46 And they don't believe in misinformation.

01:53 People who panic.

01:56 Who is the source of the information?

01:59 So that there won't be panic situations.

02:06 Are we encouraging the vaccine?

02:09 We have the flu vaccine, right?

02:12 Especially this season.

02:15 One thing that our countrymen should do is,

02:22 Number one, be confident that when the government gives recommendations for the vaccine,

02:30 we will follow it.

02:31 Because it came from experts.

02:34 And it came from the scientists of WHO.

02:39 It was just well-studied before it was recommended.

02:41 [Music]

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