Pneumonia rises to 4th leading cause of death in Phl

Pneumonia, a disease that can be easily prevented through vaccination, has emerged as the Philippines’ fourth leading cause of death, claiming more than 46,000 lives from January to July this year, health experts warned on Thursday.

“As a highly preventable disease, pneumonia should not be claiming this many lives anymore,” said Dr. Rontgene Solante, an infectious disease specialist at San Lazaro Hospital. “Pneumonia’s resurgence should remind us that we must stay consistent with our efforts, especially as diseases like this are so easily prevented with vaccines.”

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, pneumonia accounted for 6.7 percent of deaths nationwide in 2024, rising from seventh place in 2021 to fourth this year.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) also reported that benefit packages for moderate to severe pneumonia topped its claims in 2024. 

Data from the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) showed that there were 648,355 pneumonia benefit claims from January to December 2024, amounting to ₱11.9 billion in healthcare costs—expenses that could have been avoided through timely immunization.

“The cost of treatment far outweighs the cost of prevention,” said PHAP Executive Director Teodoro Padilla. “Vaccination protects not just individuals but entire communities.”

Pneumonia, which inflames the lungs and spreads through coughs or droplets, can lead to severe complications, particularly among children under five, senior citizens, and people with chronic illnesses. Health experts stressed that vaccination should not be limited to infants and the elderly.

“The protection pneumonia vaccines offer is encompassing,” Solante said. “Young or old, and even adults with chronic conditions like asthma or diabetes, benefit from it. For people with weakened immunity or lung disease, vaccination can mean the difference between recovery and a life-threatening infection.”

Among children and seniors, pneumonia can progress rapidly and become fatal if not treated immediately.

To close the country’s immunization gap, experts called for a whole-of-society approach to strengthen vaccine coverage across all age groups. The Department of Health (DOH) acknowledged that while vaccination access has expanded, challenges persist in remote and underserved areas.

Pneumonia vaccines are available for free at local government health centers, prioritizing young children and senior citizens. 

Adults may also avail of the vaccine at private clinics, hospitals, and accredited pharmacies such as Mercury Drug, Watsons, and Southstar Drug, which offer vaccination programs for individuals aged 18 and above.

Corporations are likewise encouraged to include pneumonia vaccination in their workplace health programs to protect employees and reduce absenteeism.

Health experts agreed that strengthening vaccine confidence, ensuring steady supply, and sustaining advocacy efforts are key to reducing pneumonia-related deaths and easing the burden on the country’s healthcare system.