Chronicle 03-03-2023
Seremi de Salud makes a call to access bivalent vaccination
Although the region is above the national average in this matter, the call is for the target groups to get vaccinated at their nearest cesfam, especially in March after returning to school.
The Ministry of Health is implementing the Bivalent vaccination strategy at the national level that protects against the Wuhan strain (origin of the COVID-19 pandemic) and the Ómicron subvariants, which are currently the predominant ones in circulation.
The campaign began on October 11, 2022 and remains in force to date, with a vaccine that, like all those against COVID-19 applied so far, is free.
In this context, the Health Seremi, Gloria Icaza, called for access to vaccination and a balance of the bivalent campaign in the region, highlighting the third place at the national level in which Maule is.
In this regard, the authority indicated that “our region is characterized by having good levels of vaccination. However, in the bivalent vaccine, which is the vaccine that we are now indicating to target groups, it is low compared to what we have been used to. People do have a lower perception of risk, however, we call for responsibility, to go to your nearest health center, where we have always been vaccinated ”.
As for bivalent vaccination at the national level, this reaches a coverage of 25% of the target groups, and in the Maule Region this figure reaches 27%.
Regarding the communes that have achieved greater coverage, Colbún (40%), Curepto (38%) and Pencahue (36%) stand out. As for those with the least progress in the campaign, there are Romeral (20%), Longaví (19%) and Licantén (18%).
Prevention is key to avoid contagion of Covid-19, for which the Seremi Gloria Icaza explained that “it is also important to call for self-care, to maintain the use of a mask, which is prudent especially when we are with any respiratory symptoms, in places like public transportation and work spaces. It is also important, when possible, ventilation in classrooms, hand washing and the use of alcohol gel, especially now that winter is coming.”
It is important to remember that the target groups have been expanding with the advancement of vaccination, currently corresponding to: people aged 50 or over, Health personnel, immunosuppressed people from the age of 12, chronic users from the age of 12, and prioritized groups defined by the authority (public officials, teachers, Armed Forces and carriers, among others); whose details can be found at: https://www.minsal.cl/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WhatsApp-Image-2023-02-17-at-12.29.12.jpeg.
Likewise, to receive the bivalent dose it is necessary to be part of the target groups and have received a booster dose 6 months or more ago, or primary regimen (two doses or a single dose) 4 months or more ago.
