Many people welcome the refreshing and cool weather of the rainy season, especially in a tropical country like the Philippines. While the temperature is more comfortable during the wet season, it also has its disadvantages like occasional flooding and higher chances of getting sick. That’s because some cold viruses function better during low temperatures. And if you aren’t careful, you might become ill and miss a day or two of work or school. As such, it’s important to boost your immune system and keep a pack of cold medicine on hand. Fortunately, ordering from an online drugstore in the Philippines makes it easier to stay prepared and prevent catching any symptoms.
Apart from stocking up your medicine cabinet for rainy-day essentials, you also need to arm your health against harmful diseases, before you can even contract them. Given that there are different illnesses people commonly encounter during the rainy season, here are four important vaccines you need to stay healthy all year long.
Flu Vaccine
Influenza, commonly known as flu, is a highly contagious infection that can cause serious respiratory complications. It usually spreads through sneezing, coughing, and in contact with saliva or runny nose. It can be transmitted from one person to another or through surfaces or materials contaminated by the discharges of an infected person.
Anyone is at risk of getting the flu, but most especially young children, the elderly, and people with certain medical conditions. While you can get the flu at any time of the year, it’s most common during the rainy season. The reason behind this is the rhinovirus, a virus that causes common colds tends to increase in cooler temperatures.
If you don’t want to easily catch the flu, it’s a good idea to get a flu vaccine. However, getting vaccinated once isn’t enough as the vaccine only works for a specific period and virus type. This means the flu viruses evolve quickly and last year’s vaccine might not protect you from this year’s viruses. Also, the vaccine works best for the first six months and decreases in terms of effectiveness over time. So if you want to keep your defenses up, getting a flu vaccine every year is recommended so you can guard yourself against various flu virus strains that develop each year.
Typhoid Fever Vaccine
Another infectious disease that’s common during the rainy season is typhoid fever. It’s caused by salmonella bacteria, which is a life-threatening bacterial infection. Some symptoms of typhoid fever include prolonged fever, muscle aches, loss of appetite and weight loss, and diarrhea. Typhoid fever spreads through contaminated food and water or close contact with an infected person.
Heavy rains can damage water and sewage system, which can release sewage water into the environment and contaminate the water sources used for cooking, drinking, and washing. Hence, the cases of typhoid fever rise during the monsoon season.
Fortunately, a good defense against the disease includes avoiding drinking untreated water and frequently washing hands with soap and water. Another way to prevent getting infected is to get a typhoid fever vaccine. The vaccine can be administered to kids at least two years of age and older and is offered in a single dose. If you want continuous protection, talk to your doctor about a booster dose three years after the initial dose.
Hepatitis A Vaccine
Similar to typhoid fever, Hepatitis A tends to be more common during the rainy season as it can spread through eating contaminated food or drink. It can also be transmitted through close personal contact with someone who is infected with the hepatitis A virus. As a highly contagious disease, ingesting the virus in microscopic amounts can make a person sick with symptoms lasting up to two months. The symptoms can include nausea, fatigue, stomach pains, and jaundice.
While people who were infected by the virus recover without any lasting liver damage, some rare cases of hepatitis A can cause liver failure and death. But this is more common for individuals who have other liver diseases. Thankfully, hepatitis A can be prevented by getting vaccinated. The vaccine is offered to children as young as six months old up until they reach 18. Adults who have not received the hepatitis A vaccine can also get inoculated and be protected.
Dengue Vaccine
Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever are acute viral infections caused by the bite of dengue-carrying mosquitos. Although you can get dengue any time of the year, they’re more prevalent during the rainy season because there is plenty of stagnant water, which is a possible breeding area for mosquito larvae. So before the rainy season comes, it’s a good idea to apply some preventive measures like getting inoculated with the dengue vaccine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dengue vaccines are only recommended for people who have been previously infected with dengue and living in areas where dengue is common. It’s also approved for use in children nine to 16 years old with a previous history of laboratory-confirmed dengue infection. Despite previous issues, dengue vaccines are proven to work in trials throughout the world.
While you can get sick at any time of the year, some diseases are more common during the rainy season. If you want to stay protected, it’s a good idea to check your vaccination status and include the vaccines mentioned here. More importantly, consult with your doctor for the best preventive measures you can take to ensure you and your loved ones are protected and remain healthy.