Pneumonia among top killers in the Philippines

Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that can lead to death, making preventive measures — including vaccination — essential to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

World Pneumonia Day was observed last 12 November, not as a celebration, but as a global effort to raise awareness about this life-threatening disease that affects both the young and the elderly.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) ranked pneumonia among the country’s leading causes of mortality in 2024, accounting for around 45,000 deaths last year.

In a roundtable discussion, pediatrician Dr. Delta Aguilar and infectious diseases specialist Dr. Rontgene Solante explained that pneumonia can strike anyone and is commonly transmitted through airborne droplets.

Because of this, they stressed the importance of vaccination as a critical line of defense — a message that becomes even more urgent amid widespread misinformation online.

Dr. Aguilar noted that vaccine hesitancy persists not only among ordinary citizens but even within the medical community.

“The best lesson is always experience, some who have changed their minds if things happen but we do not stop educating people that vaccine is important to prevent the transmission of disease,” she said.

She added that vaccination remains one of the most effective preventive measures, alongside lifestyle changes, diet, and proper hygiene.

“It’s one armament that we can add on to help extend our life and protect ourselves and our loved ones,” she emphasized.

Meanwhile, Dr. Solante underscored the crucial role of media organizations in ensuring the public receives accurate and accessible health information.

“The media plays a very big role for us doctors — for science to be translated into layman’s terms and to serve as a vehicle for raising awareness,” he said.

As pneumonia continues to pose a serious public health threat in the Philippines, doctors urge the public to stay vigilant, get vaccinated, and rely on verified medical information.

They emphasize that prevention remains the most powerful tool — one that can save lives and spare families the grief of a disease that is both dangerous and, in many cases, preventable.