A vaccination campaign against measles and polio will begin in Guatemala

Officials from the Ministry of Health opened the campaign in different towns in the region such as San Juan Sacatepéquez, Huehuetenango and Santa Cruz La Laguna (Sololá). The campaign will continue nine weeks, especially until October 6.

José Donato Camey, vice minister of Primary Caresaid Guatemala keeps measles, polio and rubella at bay; however, they are at risk of re-entering the countrysince cases of these have been reported diseases in countries like Mexico.

The native city of San Juan Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, is located 30 kilometers from the sea capital cityplace located in the list of categories with the best percentage of children vaccinated against measles.

Read more: Authorities announce vaccination drive to prevent polio and measles in boys and girls

The goal of the health authorities is to get the vaccine 1 million 300 thousand children to reach 95% coverage for children between 2 and 5 years, according to data released by officials.

Camey explained that the goal in Sololá is to vaccinate 38,600 girls and boys born between 2019 and 2022 with an extra dose of the usual vaccine to “help keep these diseases out. ”

In 2023, Guatemala closed the vaccination campaign against these two diseases with 77% of children were vaccinated with both doses corresponding, according to the National Immunization Program.

The Deputy Minister of Hospitals, Sandra Carballo, explained that the initiative includes the participation of the local authorities, the Catholic and evangelical church, the Social Security Institute (IGSS), World Health Organization (WHO) and Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Also read: Children in Guatemala are more vulnerable to dengue: doctors explain the reasons

“We must prevent diseasesand the only way is with a vaccine, we have no other choice,” said Carballo.

Lilian Reneau-Vernon, representative of PAHO, assured that the technical support and constant evaluations in these weeks to investigate reach the vaccination goal.

“This is proven every year in every country by two independent regional commissions” he said.

In May 2023, the Guatemalan authorities issued a warning regarding a a possible measles outbreak in the country due to low vaccination rates and he also reported that an 18-year-old young man entered Turkey with this disease.

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The symptoms of measles are usually like dengue or covid-19 and in 2024, 25 suspected cases were found in the Guatemalan region.