This Friday morning the Ministry of Health presented the National Influenza Vaccination Campaign 2024, preparing for what is coming this winter season. A complex scenario considering that the northern hemisphere presented high levels of respiratory viruses, mainly influenza and Covid-19, (the pyrola subvariant) and, following the trend, a similar situation could be expected in our region.
Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are among the main concerns for this winter. If high levels of respiratory diseases were already recorded in the country in 2023, experts anticipate that for this year the situation could be even more complex if efficient work focused on prevention and promotion is not carried out.
“The relevant thing is that all people at risk should get vaccinated, and in the case of influenza, as soon as possible. This is a campaign that must last a defined time, and to the extent that vaccination reaches a significant number of people who are called to be vaccinated, we will be able to generate herd immunity. The focus must be on epidemiological surveillance, prevention and promotion,” explained Dr. María Teresa Valenzuela, dean of the USS Faculty of Health Care Sciences.
The doctor in Microbiology and academic of the Biochemistry program at the USS Claudio Figueroa points out that it is important that the winter campaign begins to become more widespread during this month, since the viruses begin to circulate between the end of March and the beginning of April.
“What has been seen in recent years is that the arrival of winter viruses has begun to come earlier. Previously, the campaigns were at the end of April, beginning of May, now we are doing it earlier and it has a certain logic because taking into consideration the environmental changes, the migratory processes that are generated worldwide, make the viruses reach the country sooner. places earlier,” said the specialist.
In our country, a triad of respiratory diseases has been seen, with Influenza being the main condition, followed by Adenovirus and metapneumovirus. However, we must not forget that respiratory syncytial virus is a disease that is currently not only affecting infants and children, but also older adults. In this sense, Claudio Figueroa positively highlighted the arrival of the Nirvesimab vaccine, a medication that helps in the immunization of newborn babies and infants up to 6 months.
“When we manage to give immunity to a group that is very particular like infants, we close a circle that is complex and with that we help protect both the children and the environment that surrounds them,” said Dr. Claudio in Microbiology. Figueroa.
A campaign that begins today and that, as announced by the Ministry of Health, would end in June, expecting to have ensured coverage of 85% of the target population as an annual goal. Furthermore, at the beginning of the campaign, Minister Ximena Aguilera pointed out that, although the focus is on risk groups, the invitation is for the entire population to get vaccinated.
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