The Importance of Vaccination: Preventing Resurgence of Diseases like Measles and Polio

Vaccination is essential so that infections such as poliomyelitis and measles do not reappear in neighboring countries. However, these diseases could reappear due to the imbalance that exists in access to vaccines in different countries of the world and the general decline in vaccination rates, even in high-risk countries. Human development Indexcaused in large part by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In countries of high Human development Index are practically non-existent diseases thanks to the vaccination, but pediatricians are concerned about spikes in cases. Therefore, this has been one of the main issues in the XIV Conference on Vaccines of the Vaccine Advisory Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (CAV-AEP), held at Ourense both in person and online.

Abián Montesdeoca Melián: “Polio, diphtheria or measles are diseases that will reappear if efforts are not increased to improve vaccination coverage”

Polio was declared an “emergency of public health of international interest” in 2014, but the OMS has extended the declaration this year for the 34th consecutive time. On the other hand, measles vaccine coverage has been steadily declining since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the rise in the number of cases in Europa of diphtheria, which took place among refugees or asylum seekers from countries of Africa y Asia.

“We cannot lower our guard. Polio, diphtheria and measles are diseases that will reappear even in places where we have forgotten about their existence, as is the case in spainif efforts are not increased to improve the vaccination coverage“, warned the doctor Abian Montesdeoca Melianmember of the CAV-AEP.

In October 2022, the Ministry of Health evaluated the risk associated with the importation of poliovirus (PV) in spain after identifying cases of poliomyelitis and poliovirus in wastewater from neighboring countries. The conclusion reached is that the risk associated with PV in the country is currently very low although, given the epidemiological situation and the descent of the vaccination coverage At the international level, it is recommended to maintain coordination between all the components that are part of the Spanish Action Plan for the Eradication of Poliomyelitis.

Diphtheria, for its part, has also suffered a rebound despite being rare in Europa. It is a infectious disease acute that affects the nose, throat and larynx, producing fever and difficulty breathing. On her, the European Agency for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDCfor its acronym in English) estimates that the risk of extension of the diphtheria in countries with high vaccination coverage It is very low, although it cannot be ruled out that it affects people not vaccinated or with immunosuppression.

Cilleruelo: “Vaccination rates against measles have historically been high in Spain, but in recent years they have decreased in a worrying way”

Finally, the measles It is a disease that can carry significant health risks. However, it is almost entirely preventable with vaccination. The measles vaccine is included in those known as “triple viral” y “tetravirus”, preparations that also include antigens against rubella, mumps and chickenpox in the case of the latter.

Despite its importance, the vaccination decreased worryingly since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic. In 2021 almost 40 million children did not receive a dose of the vaccine. “Las vaccination rates against measles have been historically high in spainbut in recent years, even more after the irruption of the covidhave decreased in a worrying way”, concludes the doctor Maria Jose Cillerueloco-director of the XIV Conference on Vaccines of the CAV-AEP.

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