Recently, countries such as the United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, and Spain have seen a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases. Some studies show that two new Omicron sub-variants, BA.4 and BA.5, can evade the immune system and that neither previous infections nor vaccines provide robust protection. A similar surge is emerging in […]
COVID-19 has put an additional strain on patients with kidney disease. Earlier in the pandemic, there was limited access to dialysis centers, which led to many patients missing their crucial dialysis schedules. Also, as immunocompromised patients, the risks of COVID complications are far higher for them. With the introduction of the vaccination program, a new […]
There are an estimated 10 million senior citizens in the Philippines, which may double by 2040. Within this sizable population, a growing number suffer from dementia. Worsening the situation is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to impact older people both physically and mentally. Seniors are at the highest risk for infection, complications, and even […]
In mid-May, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 12 countries had cases of the monkeypox virus. Monkeypox is not new. The virus has been endemic in several African countries for years already. What may be new and alarming is that monkeypox cases are emerging in non-endemic countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, […]
The COVID-19 pandemic saw a significant rise in pregnancies due to inaccessibility to birth control treatments amid numerous lockdowns. Experts estimate that 214,000 unplanned babies were born during the pandemic, adding to the 1.7 million births a year. Most worrisome is that 40,000 to 60,000 of these births were among minors. We are still not […]
Viral hepatitis is a significant cause of mortality globally, mainly due to Hepatitis B and C viruses. The primary intervention is childhood vaccination, given at birth and in three subsequent doses. In mid-April 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported severe acute hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, of unknown origin among children below age […]
Three weeks ago, the Department of Health (DOH) approved the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) to give a fourth dose or second booster of the COVID-19 vaccines AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Sinopharm to the immunocompromised population for ages 18 years old and above. These include those receiving cancer treatment, immunosuppressants, and those […]
On April 29, the University of the Philippines Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (UP OVPAA) issued Memorandum No. 2022-09B, “Grading Policy Related to Remote Teaching and Learning Implemented for the Second Semester/Trimester, Third Trimester AY 2021-2022, and Midyear 2022”. What remains enforced: the no-fail policy, no grade of 4 or 5, […]
Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been great strides in our scientific understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants, paving the way for vaccination as a foundation for prevention. Home-based anti-viral drugs for early treatment are now available. These gradually decreased the risks of hospitalization, severe COVID, and even death. The World […]
When the COVID-19 pandemic began to rampage in early 2020, there were no experts on the disease nor any well-established treatments. Any knowledge gained came at a great price as doctors, and other medical professionals were among the first to fall to the new, highly infectious viral disease. The Philippines alone lost nearly two dozen […]