Flu, or trangkaso in the local dialect, is an illness well known to all. Everyone seems to have been through it at one time or another; yet no one is immune, despite having been infected as the virus comes in various forms. Moreover, one cannot underestimate the flu virus as influenza can kill you.

In many instances, Filipinos regard the onset of the infection as a simple fever, yet if not attended to on time, that case of lagnat caused by the virus could be debilitating and even fatal.

In the Philippines, influenza is considered a leading cause of morbidity. According to National Center for Disease Prevention and Control of the Department of Health, one out of 100 Filipinos gets sick of influenza every year. Influenza is responsible also for up to 500,000 deaths worldwide. 

The most vulnerable groups for influenza are young children as well as adults, aged 50 or above. Health studies both here and abroad ay vaccination among these age groups against flu is strongly recommended.

With the advent of the flu season, protecting yourself and your loved ones against the threat of influenza is urgent. 

This is the objective of the Trangkaseason public health information campaign. 

Trangkaseason aims to generate a high level of people’s awareness on the threat of flu, and provide the public with the needed information on how to prepare and to protect themselves and their families from this deadly disease. 

Studies have shown that the single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get a flu shot or to get vaccinated every year. The flu season comes yearly from June to November with a virus that can change from season to season. Because of this, it is vital to maintain an annual vaccination schedule to keep oneself fully protected. There is truth to the saying that, “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” This is close to the truth about flu, as the cost of hospitalization could run into tens of thousands of pesos, without even counting the wasted days and personal suffering that influenza can cause.

any Filipinos are known to be reactive to illness rather than taking preventive measures. In the long run, the latter will cost everyone less.

Trangkaseason seeks to transform this mindset and inform everyone on the importance and ease of getting vaccinated against flu. Hopefully, a fully informed and knowledgeable population would not only look at prevention as the best way of maintaining one’s health, but also on the value of   being proactive in the face of any health threat such as the flu season.

Flu vaccination is available at your family doctor or health center and there are government facilities or programs that provide them for free to indigent families. Consult your doctor or seek medical advice on how you can protect yourself and your family members in this coming flu season.