PRESS RELEASE 
July 28, 2009
Office of Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri
Ref. Public Information Office
Telefax 3244644

About 4,839 Caloocan City Government employees will receive free access to influenza injection after Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri approved a city ordinance that allocates funds for the acquisition of vaccines.

According to Echiverri, City Ordinance 0457, which was passed by the majority of councilors last Monday, allocates P1.7 million for the immediate purchase of influenza vaccines for the benefit of all Caloocan City employees.

The city ordinance is sponsored by City Councilors Ricojudge “RJ” Echiverri, Marjorie Barreto, Nora Nubla, Alexander Aruelo, Dante Prado, Gualberto Bacolod, Susana Punzalan, Melinda Mabagos, Luis Chito Abel, Milagros Mercado and Marienne Princesa Mercado.

“All our city government employees, including job order workers and consultants, can now avail of the free flu vaccination that will be administered by medical officers from the Caloocan City Health Department,” he noted.

The mayor said it has always been the sincere and honest desire of his administration to uplift the welfare of all public employees.

“Our city government employees, most especially those who perform their duties as part of the frontline services, are the ones most exposed to the elements and other communicable diseases,” he emphasized.

Mayor Recom explained that providing flu vaccine to all city employees will likely help provide partial protection and prevention from any possible spreading of the virus within and outside their place of work.

He added that this will also help employees avoid flu-related absences and long sick leaves but more importantly, prevent the delivery of services from being paralyzed.

For her part, City Health Officer Dr. Raquel So-Sayo said that flu is a very contagious viral disease in the respiratory system but it affects the entire body. It may have similar symptoms but is far more dangerous than a common cold.

“Unlike the common cold, flu causes severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people, most especially among high risk people namely, persons who are 50 years or older, young children and persons with underlying conditions like diabetes, asthma and chronic heart, lung and kidney diseases,” the city health officer explained.

She also noted that the vaccine itself will not give recipients flu because it contains non-infectious virus that has already been neutralized.

So-Sayo added, however, that the most frequently associated reaction to having flu shots is mild soreness at the injection site that can last from 24 to 48 hours.