This is how the vaccination scheme against Covid 19 should take place, according to the new changes

Although two years ago in these same months the debate in Colombia concerned the management of obtaining vaccines against Covid 19, currently the panorama is totally different. Rather, it is now the government demanding that the immunization program be completed.

And it is understandable that when faced with a new, massive issue and with changes in guidelines, confusion can be generated, but it is important to stay protected and protect people from the context, be up to date with vaccinations.

Epidemiologist Carlos Álvarez explained to SEMANA, depending on age, how many doses they should receive.

“For people aged 18 and over, four doses, of those two booster doses. Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 should have three doses and a fourth dose with a prescription. Between the ages of 3 and 11, children should receive two doses.held.

He remembered it too “the new variants that circulate, while partially eluding the defenses that are generated with the vaccine, With reinforcement, protection is increased, protecting against reinfections and long-term effects, such as those of prolonged Covid”.

Where to get vaccinated?

In the case of Bogotá, the Ministry of Health publishes the available vaccination points on a daily basis. There are about 24 sites, mostly shopping malls where organic can be accessed.

For the rest of the country, The vaccine is obtained in the traditional points or in those of the Expanded Immunization Program, PAI, where biologicals are also applied against more than 20 diseases.

Call from the Ministry of Health

Of the most critical of the Covid-19 pandemic, only the memory seems to remain. Even the occupation of ICU beds, the urgency to get vaccinated or to use masks and alcohol have been considered things of the past. Even so, the Ministry of Health insists that the virus continues to circulate and affect people.

“The first thing to keep in mind is that the Covid-19 pandemic is not over. We must be aware that the virus still causes disease and deaths.”said Deputy Director of Communicable Diseases, William Alberto Robles Fonnegra.

It is that the latest report from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità confirmed 2,112 new cases of Covid-19. Compared to last week there is an increase of 814 cases. It is evident that, since the end of October, cases have been on the rise.

There are three main reasons why, experts explain, this number of cases occurs. One is the failure to use protective measures such as masks, hand washing or vaccination against the virus. The other, the new variants of SARS-CoV-2. The third, the peak of respiratory infections that is crossing the country.

Precisely for this reason, Minister Carolina Corcho has called for greater prudence in the last few hours.

“We continue to make that call to continue wearing a mask indoors and in means of transport. Given this slight increase and the appearance of a new variant, we have been more cautious, while still maintaining the use of masks indoors, including means of transport, in order to be able to prevent. We are making an appeal, because in Colombia the message of perception of the risk of Covid-19 has been downloaded for several months. Vaccination processes continue. At this time, we continue to offer vaccines in all health services,” Corcho said.

In this sense, the deputy director assured that the country has sufficient biologicals, for which he recommended accessing the doses at any vaccination point in the country, both to start schemes and to complete them or apply the respective reinforcements, hopefully with a period of no more than six months from one to the other.

“The National Vaccination Plan against Covid-19 is still in forceit is necessary that all actors in the health system and citizens keep this in mind in order to expand vaccination coverage, which is equivalent to having greater protection from the virus,” explained the official.

Furthermore, he stressed that this is also the responsibility of vaccinators.

“It is a shared responsibility. The Administrative Bodies of the Health Plan, EAPB, know which of their affiliates do not have all the vaccinations and must carry out an induced search.that is, to find them and convince them that the vaccine represents protection and cure for life”.

Regarding vaccination trends, he said there are still vulnerable groups who have not completed their programs or have not started them; highlighting the need for people with comorbidities, minors and adults over the age of 60 to complete vaccination schedules.