To increase coverage in childhood, the market place of vaccination is being planned

The Provincial Health Service (SEDES) of Cochabamba, through the Epidemiology Unit and the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI), in collaboration with Unicef, presented yesterday a report on the increase in vaccination coverage for children under the age of five years.

However, with the aim of increasing additional coverage, it was announced that a vaccination site has been installed in the market area of ​​La Pampa, starting on November 9.

Nubia Sarmiento, representative of Unicef, said that they are doing coordinated work.

The head of Epidemiology at SEDES, Rubén Castillo, said that during the work that was done without 553 vaccines, among them were several who had never received any.

According to SEDES, they caught 55 children with zero vaccine doses, and received them.

The progress is related to the strategies implemented within the framework of the Allies for Vaccination (GAVI) project, which seeks to prevent and reduce the decline in vaccination coverage due to the coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19.

Castillo said that the GAVI strategy was developed with a focus on four health networks: Quillacollo, Cercado (due to population burden, migration and other demographic factors), Ivirgarzama and Villa Tunari (where there is an original indigenous population, which is among vulnerable groups).

Communication activities include social mobilization and community participation, aimed at positive behavioral change towards vaccination. These activities were complemented by direct interventions through vaccination groups working in the priority networks.

The major result of the GAVI project is a 10% increase in vaccination coverage for the MMR (Measles, Rubella and Mumps) vaccine, between January and September this year, compared to the same period last year. This progress is essential to consolidate the eradication of measles in Cochabamba.

“10% is very small, but that represents the effort of many people,” said the Head of Epidemiology.

KILLED Sarmiento said that as part of the activities to promote the health of children, a vaccination site will be installed in the market area of ​​La Pampa, in the center of the city, for three weekends, starting Saturday, November 9. .

The aim is for children to receive the required vaccinations there or for health professionals to review the vaccinations.

He confirmed that the work they are doing protects the rights of children throughout the country.

“We have had a low vaccination coverage of the standard schedule for children after the pandemic,” he said, and explained that, for this reason, the GAVI project was promoted.

He said the increase was noticeable between May and June this year. He said that they are also coordinating activities with educational institutions at an early stage.