Up to P15B lost yearly due to weak PH vaccination program — PIDS expert
"If we try to balance the costs of vaccination that could be through administration, etc., the benefit really outweighs the cost," Valerie Ulep, a senior research fellow and program director for PIDS' health economic and finance program, said in a forum.
Among the working age population, Ulep cited that the total hospitalization cost among Filipino adults because of flu is estimated at P1.6 billion. Meanwhile, foregone wages among adults due to flu-related hospitalizations costs around P64 million.
Ulep also reported that the total hospitalization cost among adults due to flu is estimated at P5.5 billion.
Further, data showed that the estimated average number of days lost during sickness is four days with productivity losses at nearly P6 billion.
"The productivity losses due to sick days, there are a lot of empirical evidence saying, suggesting that around, on average, the number of days are four days. So when we try to compute that, you will arrive at P6 billion productivity losses," said Ulep.
"So these are substantial losses around P14 to P15 billion every year. And almost all these are preventable with a functioning adult vaccination program."
Among seniors
Meanwhile, infectious disease specialist Rontgene Solante said research data show that most influenza-related deaths are recorded among Filipinos aged 60 years old and above.
"Majority of the deaths here is not among the children, it's mostly among the 60 years old and above. So kapag tinitignan mo itong excess mortality rate, mataas talaga ito, 5.3 per 100,000 person. That tells a lot especially for our population, we have 107 million and we have like 10 to 14 million who are 60 years old and above. That's the reason why when we will be prioritizing flu vaccine, this should be the population na kailangan natin mabigyan agad," said Solante.
Further, Ulep said there will be consequences if the country will not improve its adult immunization program.
"With under-prioritized adult vaccination, health system costs will continuously rise. As our population ages, pneumonia and flu vaccines will increase simply because more people are at risk. Second is that because of non-communicable diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases will intersect, causing complications that are harder and more expensive to treat," he said.
"Third is there is labor productivity reduction, labor productivity will decline. Especially in the context of the Philippines, where you have a high informal sector where workers do not have paid sick leaves or health protection. So that will have more negative impact," Ulep added. "And finally, it widens inequity, poor and working age adults are hit the hardest when public programs do not provide protection."
The PIDS senior researcher said the government must invest in awareness campaigns for adult immunization.
"The government might want to invest more in awareness and advocacy… Maybe the government may start regulatory and procurement reforms to reduce vaccine prices in the market… This could be a policy agenda that requires working with a private insurance and employers to cover adult vaccination as part of the supplemental benefit," said Ulep. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
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