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Announced two days of mass vaccination against influenza
6:53 | will be the 29th and 30th of this month in hospitals and health centers. Also in the villages, squares and nursing homes. They reiterated that children under three years and need another dosis.Por vaccinated: Valeria Rom?n
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Six million seven hundred thousand Argentines should be vaccinated against Influenza A (H1N1) because they are at higher risk of complications should they suffer from the virus this winter. Until yesterday, only 60% had received monovalent vaccine. For this reason, the Ministry of Health of the Nation, with support from various medical societies, announced yesterday that it devoted a weekend to facilitate access to the vaccine, free of charge at health centers, hospitals, slums, nursing homes and squares , among other public places. The goal is to reach 1,300,000 people that have not been immunized.
The weekend will be chosen from 29 and 30 May. Health centers, hospitals and VACUNATORIOS be open. "We want to get the vaccine to cover 80% of the population at higher risk of complications and mortality before the onset of winter," said Carla Vizzotti, the National Programme for Control of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases of the Ministry.
Those who should be vaccinated against influenza are children under 5 years 6 months, pregnant women, women who recently gave birth, ages 5 to 64 years with a history of risk as the transplanted, obese morbid patients with COPD, diabetes, HIV, or cancer, among others. In the rest of the population, vaccination is optional.
So far, the inoculation with the monovalent vaccine was almost satisfactory with respect to personal health: and got 97%. In second place was pregnant: 73% were vaccinated and, although there are significant differences between provinces. In Misiones, were vaccinated only 39% of pregnant women, while in Neuqu?n and reach 95%. The one with the children (aged 6 months to 4 years) is the one that was more delayed: the coverage has not exceeded 50%.
One reason, according Vizzotti is that some parents are waiting to access the trivalent vaccine containing the virus A (H1N1), with two other influenza viruses (H3N2 and B). With the trivalent vaccine, there were difficulties to buy in the private sector. He even sold out in pharmacies.
That delay would be related to a confusion that was generated on vaccines. Margarita Ramonet, president of the Sociedad Argentina de Pediatr?a (SAP), said yesterday, during a press conference at the Ministry of Health, which "have cast doubt on the safety and efficacy of a monovalent vaccine safe as to overshadow a vaccination campaign as serious as being carried out. " He said he felt "ashamed to be the pediatric population that lower rate of vaccination coverage has."
At the conference, also presented the consensus reached by the Ministry with medical societies and members of the Federal Ministers of Health (COFESA). Also in attendance was the representative of the Pan American Health Organization, Antonio Pag?s, who supported the new measure.
Several changes were made to extend coverage Influenza A. VACUNATORIOS, prepaid and other private schools can give free monovalent vaccine risk groups, with doses given by the Ministry. Those over 65 years with or without social monovalent receive upon termination of trivalent stock. For a couple of weeks latter were receiving free.
The vaccination campaign is part of an Influenza A (H1N1) which was launched in February. The government purchased 12 million doses, of which 10.8 million were monovalent and trivalent rest. "Both vaccines are complementary and are part of the strategy to cover as much population as possible against the strain A (H1N1)," said Vizzotti. Globally there is sufficient production of trivalent vaccine, and while "parents are concerned about getting a vaccine in short supply worldwide, children are not protected." Thus, recommended vaccinating children with the monovalent during the next three weeks.