he is Department of Health This Wednesday, the population of Puerto Rico was urged to get the flu vaccine, designed to offer more effective protection against this year’s strains, at a time when there is an outbreak of this disease in the country still active.
“The vaccine has already arrived in Puerto Rico. There are different brands and presentations, doses are indicated for the pediatric population, some are indicated for people over 6 years, there are some indicated for the adult population over 65 years old,” explained the doctor. Cardona magazinethe chief medical officer of Health, at a press conference at the agency’s headquarters in Río Piedras.
“The important thing is to recognize that the vaccine is already available and that people for whom the vaccine is indicated, who have no contraindication, can look for it and the one that is appropriate for their age get.”he added.
The vaccine against influenza – which is updated annually to cover the most common types – recommended for everyone from 6 months of age. This year, the vaccines available are trivalent, designed to protect against the three most common influenza viruses: A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B/Victoria. The new flu season started on June 30.
Cardona specified that the Department of Health has received approximately 2,700 doses for the pediatric population covered by the Vital plan and another 2,500 for the adult population, through federal funds. The agency has already purchased, with state funds, approximately 7,000 additional doses that have not yet arrived in Puerto Rico.which will be used for community impact activities scheduled until September, the doctor pointed out.
Likewise, Cardona confirmed that private providers have also already purchased the vaccine. According to the Puerto Rico Electronic Immunization System (PREIS), 5,318 doses of the new vaccine have been administered so far.
“The flu vaccine is the best tool we have to prevent serious complications and hospitalization, especially among our young children, people over 65 and those with chronic conditions. It is essential that all residents of Puerto Rico get vaccinated on time to protect themselves and others“, said the Health Secretary, Carlos Mellado.
In the last season (2023-2024), more than 509,256 vaccinations were given. Of these, 8,105 were for children from 6 months to 23 months; 6,347 for children from 24 to 59 months; 8,865 for children from 5 to 9 years old, and 32,350 for young people from 10 to 18 years old. As for adults, there were 19,208 people between 19 and 24 years of age; 90,183 people between 25 and 49 years of age; 116,625 people between 50 and 64 years of age, and 227,573 people over 65 years of age.
14 deaths so far this season
The latest influenza report published by Health, which according to the epidemiological week 32 – from August 4 to 10 – claims that so far in the 2024-2025 season, it has been reported resulting in 3,319 cases and 196 hospitalizations.
In addition, there are 14 confirmed deaths related to the virus, reported by the Demographic Registry. For the same period in 2023, there were more cases (5,038) and hospitalizations (233), but no deaths were reported. Cardona pointed out that this difference does not necessarily correspond to a greater number of deaths, but that there have been improvements in the digital death registration system, so that these cases enter the faster system.
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The flu vaccine is the best tool we have to prevent serious complications and hospitalization “Carlos Mellado, Secretary of Health
Regarding the characteristics of the deceased, the majority are older adults with risk factors and chronic diseases. “Advanced age is one of the most common factors,” said the doctor. However, he stressed that “you can be healthy and young, and end up in a hospital and have to fight for your life with the flu,” and that’s why he put urge vaccination.
In addition to people aged 65 and older, there are known high-risk groups, regardless of age, with certain illnesses such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease, as well as people who are pregnant. Cardona noted that so far this season, there have already been cases of pediatric patients in the hospital at risk.
“As a pediatrician and part of the Department of Health team, we encourage parents to get their children vaccinated”, pointed out Felix Rodriguez Schmidtundersecretary of the organization.
For the period from August 4 to 10, the highest incidence rate was recorded in the Caguas region, with 14.90% per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Fajardo with 10.99% and the Metro region, with 9.30%. In terms of age groups, the group of children from 0 to 9 years of age is the most affected, with 875 cases of the total collected in the current season, which represents 26.4%.
2024-08-21 21:27:00
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