Vaccination campaigns have been and are responsible for great advances in health and survival since their implementation in the 19th century. Not surprisingly, thanks to vaccines, between 3.5 and 5 million lives are saved each year, according to data from the World Health Organization (OMS).
The important role of these drugs, as well as the challenges and future of vaccines were discussed in a scientific session Achievements and opportunities for vaccination in Spain of the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spaina (RANME), organized by the Spanish Vaccinology Association (AEV) in collaboration with Farmindustria.
The day, held in the framework of the World Immunization Week (from April 24 to 30), was inaugurated by the Director General of Public Health of the Ministry of Health, Pilar Aparicio, who stressed that “research has immediate results in improving health protection, and together with development industry are two key aspects for our country”.
The president of RANME, Eduardo Diaz Rubioreviewed that “vaccination is, after drinking water, the most effective weapon to reduce the incidence of preventable diseases and, therefore, contributes decisively to the well-being of humanity.”
For his part, Emily Estevedirector of Farmaindustria’s Technical Department, recalled that «Covid vaccines have been a great example of the role that these drugs can play not only in health, but on the welfare and economic and social development of society. And, as the slogan of the European Medicines Agency points out this year, every dose counts to be protected.
Among the main messages of the day, he highlighted the value of the work of the scientific community to find new vaccines – more than 100 are currently under investigation in Europe alone – and of basic research, the importance of which is crucial to advance the number of diseases that can be prevented by vaccinations.
The president of the EAV, Jaime Perez Martinemphasized this point and how “immunization involves many different people, agencies, societies and institutions that have to work together to prevent as much as possible of preventable pathologies and obtain the best health outcomes.”
Vaccination is, after drinking water, the most effective weapon to reduce the incidence of preventable diseases
Eduardo Diaz Rubio
President of the RANME
In addition to research, the importance of vaccine evaluation during the Covid pandemic and the role of the pharmaceutical industry in meeting approval requirements were underscored. He did it Agustín PortelaHead of Area of the Division of Biological Products, Advanced Therapies and Biotechnology of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (Aemps), who recalled that “close to 1,000 million doses of vaccines have been administered in Europe and not a single batch has been withdrawn. We must recognize the great effort made by the companies.”
national immunization registry
The conference also addressed the effectiveness of vaccines and the importance of the future national vaccine registry, such as the one that already exists for Covid-19, which will allow for better effectiveness studies, help in decision-making and have a more protected population against preventable diseases.
In Spain, in recent years significant progress has been made in vaccination programs such as that of Covidthe introduction of the influenza and meningococcus B vaccines in children or the human papilloma virus in male adolescents, as stated by the president of the AEV.
Researchers, representatives of the public administration, the healthcare field, patients and the pharmaceutical industry had a voice in this event, which was closed by the Secretary of State for Health, Silvia Calzón, who stressed the role of Spain as an example of efficiency in Covid vaccination and concluded that, “so that vaccines continue to be a fundamental tool for health protectionwe have to continue strengthening the industrial capacities for its manufacture in our country”.
2023-04-29 10:50:51
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