An INTERVIEW with DR. BRYAN CEPEDOZA about FLU and PNEUMONIA VACCINES conducted by the Managing Editor of The Bohol Tribune
(Part 4)
Q. Is it possible to get the flu and pneumonia vaccine at the same time?
A. It is possible to administer the vaccines at the same time where one arm will get the flu vaccine and the pneumonia vaccine will be given on the other arm.
Q. Is there a benefit of getting the vaccines at the same time?
A. The benefit is the same when getting vaccinated at the same time and getting the vaccines on separate occasions.
Q. How are the vaccines administered? Can you give these intravenously?
A. The vaccine is usually injected on the muscles on the right deltoid, which is near the shoulder. If given intravenously like with a dextrose line, it will be disposed of via the urine.
Q. Why are medicines usually given via the dextrose?
A. Medicines can be given via the dextrose but the vaccines need to be injected so that they can be released slowly and will not be excreted via the kidneys.
Q. Is it necessary to consult a doctor before getting vaccinated?
A. It is best to consult a doctor to discuss the possible side effects like pain on the injection site and/or mild fever.
Q. You made mention of the flu and pneumonia season. When is the flu and pneumonia season?
A. In the Philippines, the flu season is from June to November; while the pneumonia season is the whole year round.
Q. Do you advise an executive check up every year?
A. The executive check-up like a cardiac panel depends on the co-morbidity of the patient. If one is hypertensive, it is best to have a cardiac panel every year and the treatment will be based on the results of the lab tests. For example, if you’re 45, you might need to have baseline colostomy.
Q. What is the length of effectivity of the lab results?
A. It depends on the symptoms. For example, you were x-rayed for cough symptoms and was treated and then recovered, and then after a month the cough returned, one may need to get another x-ray. It is on a case-to-case basis.
Q. if a person has a cough, should it be self-medicating?
A. People should not self-medicate. For example, a cough is a symptom of heart failure. And it is possible that another patient has pneumonia with cough symptoms. The one with a heart failure will be given diuretics to remove excess water in his body. If the pneumonia patient will self-medicate using the medicine for a heart failure patient, then he will be urinating a lot and will not be cured because the treatment for pneumonia is to treat the bacterial infection. Same symptoms but different treatment methods.
Q. Which is more important – the flu or pneumonia vaccine?
A. They are both important.
Q. A parent is afraid to bring a patient to be vaccinated because of fever as a side effect. Should people be worried about the side effects?
A. No there is no need to worry. The side effects are negligible and mild and go away after 24 to 48 hours. (To be continued)