The Importance of Vaccines and the BCG Vaccine in Preventing Infectious Diseases and Tuberculosis

Vaccines are a responsible and supportive act, they are a safe, simple, innocuous and effective prevention measure that society has to avoid a large group of infectious diseases that are preventable but that in the past represented the greatest cause of mortality in the population.

“Vaccines activate the body’s natural defenses so that they learn to resist specific infections and strengthen the immune system,” says Dr. Valeria El Haj, National Medical Director of OSPEDYC. And she adds that: “they constitute one of the most important advances in global health and development. However, despite their proven benefit over the years, immunization rates are still low.”

Photo: Orlando Pelichotti / Los Andes

BCG vaccine

The BCG vaccine is applied to protect people under 5 years of age, especially children under 1, from severe forms of tuberculosis (such as meningitis). Therefore, it is extremely important that newborns receive this vaccine, its application being recommended within 7 days of birth, being a single dose.

According to the epidemiological bulletin of the Ministry of Health, in Argentina, during 2021, 12,569 cases of tuberculosis were reported, of which 11,884 were new and relapsed. In this sense, the national rate of the total cases was 27.4 per 100,000 inhabitants and approximately 60% of the cases were diagnosed in the young population and those of productive age (15 to 44 years).

The province of Buenos Aires and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires registered the highest number of cases, concentrating 65% of the reported cases in the country. However, the highest notification rate was in the province of Salta with a value of 49.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, while the lowest is in Neuquén, with a rate of 4.2.

“These figures are the ones that should alarm us all and generate change, without forgetting that there are other factors that determine its occurrence, such as social and health factors,” the professional mentions.

In our country there is a National Vaccination Calendar, which specifies compulsory and free vaccinations. They are applied in vaccination centers, health centers and public hospitals in the country. This calendar includes vaccines for all stages of life, special situations or for specific groups.

“It is essential to know that the vaccine, along with timely diagnosis and supervised treatment, make up the essential triad, both for the control of tuberculosis and other pathologies. And as always, it is necessary to emphasize that vaccinations are a responsible and supportive act, since the person who does not get vaccinated could be at risk of contracting serious diseases and also putting the entire community at risk”, concludes El Haj.

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2023-07-05 03:00:01
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