PH spending P3-B on dengue vaccines | ABS-CBN

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PH spending P3-B on dengue vaccines

PH spending P3-B on dengue vaccines

ABS-CBN News

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Updated Jan 04, 2016 02:02 PM PHT

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MANILA - The Department of Health is spending 3 billion pesos for the purchase of the newly discovered dengue vaccine but not everyone can use it to prevent infection.

Health Secretary Janette Garin said the vaccine, discovered by drug company Sanofi Pasteur, is recommended only for people ages 9 to 45 years old.

"We don't recommend it [for above 50 years old] because there would be other interactions. You would've been exposed to many diseases. The safety has not been established that well if you inject it above 45 years old. That is why we want to play on the safe side," she said in an ANC Headstart interview.

"The vaccine is a live virus that has been killed so you don't know the reaction of the person if you're above 45 years old. What was established in the study was the safety,the efficacy for 9-45 years old. If you look at the strategy of implementing it especially if you talk about the government, it should best be given to Grade 4 or Grade 5 students, 9-10 years old, kasi sila yung malaki ang volume. And if they're protected because the seniors and the adults get it from the children so kung hindi na nai-infect ang mga bata, wala na ring source."

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Garin said the DOH cannot reveal the unit price of the dengue vaccine because there could be comparisons from the private sector. She added they were given a 34 percent discount by the manufacturer.

The health secretary said most dengue cases in the country are found in the National Capital Region, Region III and Region IV-A.

She said the Philippines is already spending 16 billion pesos on dengue treatments yearly.

Last month, the Philippines became the first Asian country to approve the sale of the world's first-ever dengue vaccine.

The dengue vaccine is expected to arrive in the country next week for the private sector.

The World Health Organization says as many as 400 million people are infected worldwide every year, and two-thirds are in Asia.

Scientists have long been stumped by dengue, which has four separate strains, forcing researchers to find a drug able to fight all of them at once.

Clinical tests -- carried out on 40,000 people from 15 countries -- have found Dengvaxia can immunize two-thirds of people aged nine years and older, rising to 93 percent for the more severe form of the disease, dengue haemorrhagic fever.

It was also found to reduce the risk of hospitalization by 80 percent.

Dengue can trigger a crippling fever, along with muscle and joint pain. There is no known cure, and children are at particular risk.

The deadliest form of the disease kills 22,000 people a year, the WHO says.

It was once considered a disease of the tropics, endemic in only nine countries, but globalization, urbanization, climate change and jet travel are helping it to move into more temperate zones.

It is now endemic in more than 100 countries.

The WHO says cases have risen 30-fold over the last 50 years, with more than half the world's population potentially at risk. With Agence France-Presse

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Sports car enthusiasts join forces for charity-driven event

Sports car enthusiasts join forces for charity-driven event

Paige Javier,

ABS-CBN News

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Sports car enthusiasts join forces for charity-driven event in Bonifacio Global City, February 23, 2025. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN NewsSports car enthusiasts join forces for charity-driven event in Bonifacio Global City, February 23, 2025. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News

MANILA – Over 200 sports cars were on display at 4th Avenue and 27th Street in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig for a charity-driven event. 

Sports car enthusiasts brought out their timeless, classic and modern cars, including electric vehicles to drive support for the annual event. 

"Sports Cars for a Cause" returned for its sixth edition on Sunday to raise more funds to help students from the Sisters of Mary School in Silang, Cavite. 

BGC Car Club Convenor and NEO President Charlie Rufino said they initially focused on raising money for scholarships, but they extended it to support a school building. 

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"This is originally targeted for our Sisters of Mary School automotive scholars. But we've expanded it, we're gonna put a lot of the funds to a new school building. We call it Digital Transformation Building," Rufino said.  

"It's gonna be done and prepared for students that wanna learn the digital skills and all the upskilling. This will be a new five-storey building for them," he explained.

Rufino underscored the importance of equipping the youth with education to grow the local automotive industry. 

"Automotive is growing here. But we're also worried about disruption, electric cars are coming… We do believe our scholars will not only be trained in the old school but also the new school, he added." 

"We're so happy for the outpouring from the sports car club and also for the sponsorships from our other major groups to help us," he said. 

Rufino hopes to encourage more car enthusiasts and donors to help out. 

"I guess the best bang for the back, just give it to education. These kids are really talented, they just need a break. We have graduates from our school who are now heads of companies and some of them are valedictorians in major schools," he shared. 

Sports car enthusiasts join forces for charity-driven event in Bonifacio Global City, February 23, 2025. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN NewsSports car enthusiasts join forces for charity-driven event in Bonifacio Global City, February 23, 2025. Paige Javier, ABS-CBN News

Sr. Teresita Sumalabe of the Fr. Al Children Foundation Inc. expressed her gratitude to all those who helped the at least 300 student beneficiaries. 

"They have contributed a lot for our charity program. And we can see that our students, our children, the moral is being boosted," she said. 

"Every time our students would see that building would be constructed, it serves as an inspiration for them to stay and they wish that sana we will have a chance of studying there in that building so they will be more equipped with advanced technical skills and knowledge," Sumalabe added. 

Sr. Mylene Arambulo of the Sisters of Mary Schools said most of the scholars are driven to study and help their families. 

"They are coming from the poorest of the poor. Usually they are in the island where the sisters are recruiting them. When they will graduate from the Sisters of Mary, most of them are the breadwinner of their family," she shared.  

"They are now in different companies. Now they are working in Dubai, some of them are not just in Dubai, working in Europe to help their family… They are also helping the Sisters of Mary," Arambulo added. 

Businesswoman and car enthusiast Angie Mead King was once again in attendance to show support for the charity-driven event.

"I like the event because it's for a cause. We're sending students to learn more about automotive and mechanical engineering, which is part of the industry I really love," she said. 

"By us doing this charity event with the people, we get to raise funds, send scholars to Germany. And hopefully the technology they learn from Germany they can bring back to the Philippines and improve our industry and the economy," King added. 

The car enthusiast hopes to convince more people to donate for the cause. 

"Every year it gets more successful. I'm so happy it gets so much love and support. I'm here at the donation box, trying to get more donations so that we can send more students abroad," she said. 

"I do any part that I can to help move students to learn and get a better education," King explained. 

Following the outpouring of support from the sixth edition, Rufino is gearing up to bring a bigger "Sports Cars for a Cause" event next year. 

"Every year we a have a theme. This year it's about watches and cars… Next year we'll probably have some art pieces will be donated like this year," he said. 

"We're looking forward that it expands from the cars to the automotive to the architecture and further on," Rufino added.

 

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