The year begins and with the start of classes at school and the extra activities of the children, the physical fitness requirements begin so that the children can carry out their daily routine in a healthy way. However, after two years of pandemic, the return to the classroom is full of doubts for families because, although the numbers of the Covid-19 are declining, there is uncertainty about the future, not to mention the possible appearance of emerging viruses and epidemic outbreaks.
This is why it is an excellent time to carry out the health control and review the vaccination certificates of children and adolescents. Children must have the vaccines indicated according to age, as shown in the National Immunization Calendar, which are free and mandatory.
Along these lines, those who enter 1st grade, between the ages of 5 and 6, must receive the vaccine antipoliomyelitica (Salk), the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps and rubella), the vaccine triple bacterial cellthe vaccine chicken pox (2nd dose) and the vaccine anti-flu for children with risk factors (one dose every year). On the other hand, at the age of 11 they must receive the vaccine against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), Meningococcal Vaccine (ACWY), Acellular MMR Vaccine, Influenza Vaccine for children with risk factors (one dose every year), yellow fever vaccine (as reinforcement for residents of risk areas) and the triple viral and hepatitis B vaccines (start or complete schemes if you did not receive them previously). The applied vaccines should be registered in each vaccination center, preferably in nominal form, so that if the card is lost there is a record of them.
It is important to clarify that, when there are interrupted vaccination schedules, it is not necessary to restart these vaccination schedules, but only the delayed doses should be recovered. In addition, the corresponding vaccines can be applied at the same time, since they do not interfere with each other (with the exception of the triple viral and yellow fever vaccine, which is preferred to apply both on the same day or separated by 28 days), but always with different syringes and in different anatomical places; and to reduce the number of needlesticks, combination vaccines can be used, such as quintuple or sextuple vaccines (which may contain components of the vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, haemophylus influenzaehepatitis B and polio).
The periodic review of the vaccination cards by the pediatrician, vaccinators and other agents linked to immunizations makes it possible to keep the schedules up to date. It is at the time of the consultation where we must emphasize the importance of being correctly protecteds.
Let us remember that vaccines are capable of preventing potentially serious diseases and preventing outbreaks and the re-emergence or reintroduction of vaccine-preventable diseases. According to Unicef, immunization is one of the most effective public health interventions, thanks to which minors can grow up healthy and develop their full potential.
In this sense, schools have a very important role collaborating in the control of student vaccination cards, warning families if they are incomplete and suggesting consultation with their pediatrician. The collaborative work of different actors in our society will help increase vaccination coverage.
Head of the Infectious Diseases Service of the Víctor J Vilela Children’s Hospital in Rosario and Advisor to the SAP National Infectious Diseases Committee.
