As of this Saturday, in the country it will be applied massively the influenza virus vaccinea viral infection that mainly affects the upper respiratory tract, is easily transmitted and spreads rapidly.
The Mass Vaccination Day, led by the Ministry of Health, seeks to prevent the complications that the virus can cause, and including death, especially in high-risk groups.
“Although influenza affects all age groups, it is more frequent and generates greater complications in extreme ages of life, that is, children and older adults. Likewise, pregnant women, people with comorbidities and human talent in health who work in services with high circulation of respiratory viruses”, said Gerson Bermont, director of Promotion and Prevention.
The influenza vaccine seeks generate antibodies directed against the virus and incorporates three different strains corresponding to each period of influenza activity. This means that the vaccine changes every year, so the population must be protected annually against new strains of influenza virus.
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Influenza is a seasonal disease, that is, it occurs in one of the seasons of the year or is typical of it, and In Colombia, peaks of respiratory disease are expected between the months of April and October.
The Ministry of Health recalled that the available vaccines are safe and have a low risk of adverse events.
Population that can receive the vaccine:
Children from 6 to 11 months of age should receive two doses 4 weeks apart.
Children 12 to 23 months of age they should receive one or two doses depending on their influenza vaccination history.
Pregnant women from the 14th week of pregnancy they should receive one dose.
Population aged 60 and over They should get one dose every year.
People from 24 months to 59 years with risk diagnoses should receive the following doses: children from 24 to 35 months one dose or two doses according to their influenza vaccination history. People ages 3 to 59 should get one dose.
Family and cohabitants under 18 years old of age with cancer should receive one dose every year.
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