The most common viruses have been respiratory syncytial virus and human rhinovirus, but Covid-19 is also circulating.
Last week, the Ministry of Health and the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) expressed their joint desire to strengthen and improve vaccination coverage against Covid-19 in the population, in order to minimize complications and hospitalizations associated with this health problem.
Read more: Costa Rica was one of the countries that best managed the Covid-19 pandemic
“We have insisted on the importance of getting vaccinated. vaccines They have been developed in accordance with all quality standards and have been shown to significantly reduce the severity of the disease,” said Health Minister Mary Munive Angermüller.
Munive made an emphatic call to citizens, particularly parents, to ensure the vaccination of minors, as well as people in risk groups. According to data from the ministry, 36 children have died this year from diseases respiratory.
Of these, 33 had pre-existing risk factors, being rinovirus and enterovirus are the ones that have caused the most deaths.
Although there has been a slight decrease in Covid-19 cases in the country in recent weeks, both institutions believe that it is crucial to maintain vigilance.
Read more: Covid-19 cases increased in the first days of the year, reports Ministry of Health
For her part, Karla Solano Durán, director of the CCSS Health Services Network, assured that, as part of this effort, the health areas will intensify the actions they develop to protect the population against Covid-19. For example, opening hours at vaccination centres will be extended, and actions will be carried out outside businesses and shopping centres.
“The vaccination teams of the CCSS continue to work hard to ensure that the entire population has access to the Covid-19 vaccine. From our health areas we are implementing various strategies that range from extending hours in vaccination centers even extramural actions, bringing the vaccine directly to homes and workplaces.”
Solano added: “This effort responds to our commitment to protect the most vulnerable people and continue to reduce the impact of this disease in our country’s health facilities.”
According to Carlos Jiménez Herrera, general director of the National Children’s Hospital, the number of beds dedicated to the care of respiratory patients has had to be increased recently due to the increase in respiratory diseases. The most common viruses have been respiratory syncytial virus and human rhinovirus, but Covid-19 and others such as metapneumovirus, adenovirus and parainfluenza are also circulating.
