Amid rising cases medical expert: Vaccine vs. Dengue crucial protection
A medical expert in the Philippines is advocating for the approval of a new dengue vaccine to help manage rising cases during the rainy season. The expert clarifies that the vaccine is intended to reduce disease severity rather than prevent infection entirely.
Why it matters
As dengue remains endemic in the Philippines, the introduction of a new vaccine could significantly impact public health strategies and reduce hospital burdens.
CEBU, Philippines - As dengue cases are expected to climb further, a medical expert is urging the approval of a long-awaited dengue vaccine, saying it could become a crucial component in strengthening the existing prevention measures in a country where the disease remains endemic.
Dr. Jonathan Lim, a board member of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines and chair of its Committee on Immunization, said the medical field has been seeing an increase in dengue cases since July and expects the trend to continue in the coming months.
"We expect the dengue cases to go up in the next few months because nagsugod pa man ang rainy season," Lim told THE FREEMAN during a Zoom interview.
Lim explained that rainfall naturally leads to more mosquito breeding sites.
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