Vaccination against influenza rose 30 percent compared to last week, after expanding coverage to all groups, reported the national head of the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI), Max Enríquez.
Vaccination against influenza was initially directed at risk groups and children under five years of age; In April, coverage was extended to 12 years of age, and finally it was extended to the entire population.
Enríquez expressed that the increase in vaccines is important to stop the infections that this year are five times the cases of 2023, in the same period.
However, the campaign must be sustained because there was a drop in influx from 40,000 daily doses to around 2,000, a situation that is being reversed.
All health centers in the country have available vaccines against influenza, against Covid-19 and those contemplated in the PAI.
Enríquez recalled that the goal is to vaccinate in both arms: in one against influenza and in the other against Covid-19, because simultaneous vaccination is also authorized. “There are no side effects other than pain at the injection site and maybe some fever,” he said.
One of the departments with the highest number of cases of influenza is Santa Cruz and the response from the people there was positive.
The Epidemiology manager of the Departmental Health Service (Headquarters) of Santa Cruz, Carlos Hurtado, indicated that the population is attending vaccination centers en masse. “All the health centers are full,” he said.
The population that best responded is between 13 and 59 years of age. “They go to health centers demonstrating responsibility so as not to get sick,” said Hurtado.
Hurtado estimated that, with the high demand, the doses in Santa Cruz will supply for one more week. “If you want to immunize the entire Santa Cruz population, more than 2,400,000 doses are required.”
Another of the departments hardest hit by influenza is La Paz, where fixed and mobile points were installed to face the “combo vaccination” campaign against influenza and Covid-19, at the same time.
PAI
Within the framework of the PAI, Enriquez mentioned that Tarija, Cochabamba and Chuquisaca achieved certification for being free of polio and measles, thanks to outstanding vaccination coverage, having exceeded 95 percent coverage.
Vaccination coverage
In the last epidemiological week, Cochabamba reached first place in vaccination against Covid-19 in the third dose with 33.6 percent coverage in the vaccinable population, and Chuquisaca reached second place with 33.5 percent coverage. .
From the PAI they indicated that the work of the health brigades will continue to raise the figures in order to stop the contagion; They also recommended compliance with biosecurity measures such as constant hand washing.
2023-07-08 08:13:53
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