Last Nov. 17, 2025, I had the distinct honor of delivering the seventh Dr. Thelma Tupasi Memorial Lecture at the Makati Medical Center. Dr. Thelma Tupasi was one of the pillars of infectious diseases in the Philippines, and her contributions to the proper treatment of tuberculosis are acknowledged...
As the flu season continues in the country, an infectious disease expert has warned the public to stay vigilant against Influenza A, the strain most likely to cause severe pneumonia and hospitalization, particularly among vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. Dr....
An infectious disease specialist reiterated the safety and effectiveness of vaccines used today. Dr. Rontgene Solante during the Philippine College of Physicians' pre-vaccine summit press conference on Tuesday, March 19 (Zekinah Elize Espina / Manila Bulletin) "If you look at the data on most...
Facemasks (stock photo) Pediatricians are still recommending students and teachers to wear their face masks inside classrooms following the government’s decision to make masking optional in the country. Both the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the...
An infectious disease expert on Monday, June 20, said there is still no indication to place the National Capital Region (NCR) under the more restrictive Alert Level 2. Dr. Edsel Maurice T. Salvaña (Screenshot taken from Laging Handa FB Live ) Recently, the number of Covid-19 cases in the NCR...
It's a good time to downgrade to Alert Level 1 or the "new normal" for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an infectious disease expert said Monday, Feb. 21. People in queue for goods at the Diliman community pantry (Mark Balmores/ File photo/ MANILA BULLETIN) "Well, at this point, mukhang medyo...
The president of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) on Tuesday, Feb. 8, encouraged parents to have their kids vaccinated against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), saying it would allow them to return to their normal activities. (NOEL PABALATE / MANILA BULLETIN) PIDSP...
While science is still evolving, current studies revealed that the pediatric dose of the Pfizer vaccine is safe and effective in preventing severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) illness among children aged five to 11 years old, medical societies reiterated on Tuesday, Feb. 8. In a media conference,...
Saying that it is already time to let children to go to school and play outside, the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) has backed the government’s inoculation of children aged 5 to 11 which is eyed to begin on Friday, Feb. 4. (PIDSP president Dr. Mary Ann Bunyi /...
A nurse prepares a syringe of the Pfizer-BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine at a vaccination centre, in Garlan, western France, on May 31, 2021. Fred TANNEAU / AFP A pediatric infectious disease expert recommended to the government that it should first inoculate at least 50 percent of its target population...
Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines (AFP) Two pediatric groups in the country still recommend prioritizing the adult population in the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination. The Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) said that the adult...
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) Two pediatric groups in the country believed that the real state of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among Filipino children has yet to be seen. “In the Philippines, we still don't have a national data reflected on the true incidence of COVID-19 in Filipino children....
