TACLOBAN CITY — The Department of Health here has beefed up its inoculation program against flu in Eastern Visayas to combat the expected surge of respiratory illness this holiday season.

DoH regional information officer Jelyn Lopez-Malibago disclosed on Tuesday that the vaccination drive started last September and they have so far delivered around 100,000 flu and pneumococcal vaccines to cities and provinces.

She added that the remaining 1,500 doses that are stored at the DoH regional office will be administered during the vaccination drive on 14 to 15 December at the regional office in Palo, Leyte.

"We have allocated and distributed to provinces and cities. We also granted requests from national government agencies, non-government organization, private institutions, hospitals and other organizations," said Malibago.

Health workers administer flu vaccines to 18 years and older, while those 45 years old and above are targeted for pneumococcal vaccination. Older people can get both vaccines.

Flu usually comes on suddenly, while pneumonia takes longer to develop and can be a complication from the flu, and Malibago said that vaccines are needed with the higher cases of flu-like illnesses this year following the lifting of pandemic restrictions.

As of end-November 2023, the region recorded 10,950 flu cases with 21 deaths. This is higher by 27 percent than the 8,627 recorded, in 23 deaths, in 2022.

Influenza or flu is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza virus and is common worldwide. The World Health Organization said most people recover from it without treatment.