Santa Cruz Department Launches Vaccination Month Campaign for Children Under 5

The Departmental Health Service (Headquarters) of Santa Cruz began this Monday, April 1, to “Vaccination Month“, a campaign that seeks to complete the vaccination schedule of more than 10,000 children under 5 years of age against 24 diseases.

Jaime Bilbao, director of Headquarters, pointed out that the campaign will extend throughout the month of April, with special emphasis on Vaccination Week of the Americas, which is celebrated from April 17 to 23.

“We have the goal of finding all those children who have never been vaccinated or who have forgotten to complete the vaccination schedule,” said Bilbao.

For this, the 64 health centers in the capital of Santa Cruz and the more than 400 in the provinces will offer 14 different vaccines for free.

Bilbao mentioned that in the last five years they have accumulated more than 100,000 children who have not been vaccinated or who have not completed their vaccination schedule.

“We call on all parents to please come with their children under 5 years to complete or start their vaccination schedule,” Bilbao insisted.

The director of Headquarters also mentioned the importance of vaccination against Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for girls up to 14 years old, which is also available in health centers.

Bilbao highlighted that the resurgence of diseases such as measles, whooping cough, neonatal tetanus, hepatitis and influenza in neighboring countries makes Bolivia a risk country.

“That is why it is important that parents look after the health of their children and come to vaccinate them,” he reiterated.

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