Watsons Philippines took a fresh approach to vaccine education with their event, “As a Matter of Vaxx: Get Your Vaccine Facts Straight.” Held at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater in RCBC Plaza in Makati on October 15, 2024, the event brought together leading medical experts, improv comedy from SPIT Manila, and celebrity guest Rufa Mae Quinto to tackle serious health issues in a fun and engaging way.
“Vaccination is a serious topic, but learning about it can be fun,” said Sharon Decapia, Watsons’ SAVP for Marketing, PR & Sustainability. Watsons aimed to break the traditional mold of health seminars by incorporating comedy to make the information more digestible for the audience.
The heart of the event was a panel discussion featuring top medical professionals, each sharing their insights on vaccination and its role in public health.
“Vaccination prevents lifelong complications and reduces the burden on our healthcare system,” said Dr. Cristina Ignacio-Alberto, board member of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV), a non-profit dedicated to advocating for vaccination. “There are so many diseases we could have prevented if people just got vaccinated.”
Alberto took the conversation further by discussing how vaccination is not just for individual protection, but that of the community’s. With her years of experience, Alberto observed that Filipinos generally have high trust in vaccines and the country’s healthcare system in general, though anti-vax sentiments do exist.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought a silver lining: it reminded people of how essential vaccines are. “Without the COVID-19 vaccine, we might still be in a pandemic now,” she added.
Dr. Nicole Anne Buenavista, a member of the Philippine Digital Medicine Society, is another panelist during the event. She spoke passionately about the intersection of healthcare and technology.
“Health starts with education,” she said. Her advocacy is for patients to own their medical records, including vaccination cards, which she believes should be accessible digitally.
Buenavista also uses her platform to provide accurate medical advice in hopes of combating the rampant disinformation found online. “People are on social media, and that’s where we should be giving them the right information,” she said.
Role of doctors in vaccination
Dr. Kilimanjaro Tiwaquen, also known as Doc Kilimanguru, a popular medical content creator, moderated the panel discussion. He shared a personal story that resonated with many in the audience. “Sometimes, fear of vaccination comes from the doctor too,” he said. As a child, he was once scared of getting vaccinated because his own doctor was intimidating or downright scary. This experience shaped his advocacy today of being more child-friendly during vaccinations, so children can overcome their fears.
Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Gilinezabel Igtiben-De la Fuente, a pediatric specialist, emphasized the importance of early immunization. “Building immunity starts at a young age,” she said, adding that she often skips the traditional white coat when treating children to make them feel less scared. She also talked about the broader benefits of vaccination, like herd immunity, which protects the entire community when a high percentage of the population is immunized.
Dr. Minette Claire Rosario, former chair of the Immunization Committee for the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, clarified the often-confused terms: vaccination and immunization. “Vaccination refers to the act of getting a vaccine, while immunization is the process by which a person becomes protected against a disease,” she said.
The event also tackled several myths and facts about vaccines, helping attendees sort through common misconceptions. These clarifications aimed to dispel wrong information which circulates on social media and reinforce the role of vaccines in preventing illnesses such as flu, pneumonia, HPV, shingles, and hepatitis B.
A comedic twist on a serious issue
After the panel discussion, SPIT Manila took the stage to infuse humor into the serious topic of vaccination. Through interactive skits, audience participation, and a guest appearance by actress Rufa Mae Quinto, they made the audience laugh while delivering key messages about vaccine importance.
Jared De Guzman, Watsons Philippines’ Customer Director, shared the rationale behind the event’s format: “We wanted to do something different to bring attention to the importance of vaccination. Comedy helps make the topic more relatable and memorable for people.”
The event aligned with the Department of Health’s (DOH) efforts to promote vaccination, and Watsons is pushing further with more social media content to extend the reach of their campaign.
Vaccines are available at select Watsons stores across the country, where individuals can book appointments online or walk in. Watsons offers vaccines for flu, pneumonia, HPV, shingles, and hepatitis B, among others.
De Guzman said: “The message is simple: Vaccination is important, it works, and you can get vaccinated for many kinds of illnesses in our stores.”
ADVT.
This article is brought to you by Watsons through Browne Communication.
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