MADRID, 20 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
In the last year, the Community of Madrid has administered 226,000 doses of vaccines against herpes zoster ((HZ), a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. More than 11,000 babies from 0 to 6 years of age have already received the vaccine against the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and in 2024 it will begin to immunize all children from 1 year of age against meningococcus.
During an informative breakfast organized by Europa Press, the Minister of Health, Fátima Matute, highlighted these data as an example of the region’s commitment to prevention and health promotion through lifelong vaccination programs. .
In this framework, the administration of more than 226,000 doses against herpes zoster in the last year has stood out, with the region as one of those that includes the largest age cohorts – 65 years and from 75 to 80, in addition to rescue of the not vaccinated in 2022 who turn 81 and 66 years old–. For this year’s campaign, the Community has acquired 270,000 doses, with an investment of more than 33.7 million euros.
Furthermore, since the vaccination campaign for children under six months of age against RSV began on October 2, which caused 3,685 hospital admissions in the region during the last season and 300 admissions to pediatric ICUs, more than 11,000 have been inoculated. dose.
The regional government has invested 10.8 million euros to acquire 50,000 doses of the monoclonal antibody Nirsevimab, a new drug with which antibodies are injected to block the virus, which causes bronchiolitis, pneumonia and other respiratory infections, which can reduce by around 75% the most serious infections.
In addition, the Community will incorporate the meningococcus vaccine into the calendar in 2024 for all children from the first year of life.
Also in terms of prevention, the head of Madrid’s Health Department has highlighted the objective of turning the Community into a benchmark in the early detection of cancer, with initiatives such as the launch of the Cassandra project (Cancer Screening, Smoking Cessation and Respiratory Assessmen) for early detection of lung cancer.
Specifically, the Cassandra Project, promoted by the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR), is the first state pilot project for the early detection of lung cancer with low-dose radiation chest computed tomography (LDCT). It will soon be launched in 40 health areas throughout Spain and hopes to be completed at the end of 2028 after carrying out between 30,000 and 50,000 screenings in those five years, between 1,000 and 1,500 for each area.
“We are probably helping not only patients to be diagnosed early, with which the treatment, as you well know, will be better, but also to prevent them from developing the disease,” highlighted Matute, who recalled that, in addition to screening tests, Tobacco Cessation Units will be launched.
In parallel, it will also continue to promote programs such as DEPRECAM, focused on the early detection of breast cancer, PREVECOLON, for colon and rectum, or CERVICAM, for cervix, which in this term will complete full implementation in the 35 age cohorts. at 65 years.
2023-11-20 11:05:00
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