The vaccination It is one of the most effective tools to prevent infectious diseases and its complications.
This type of disease continues to represent significant risks for public health; Therefore, vaccination schemes are maintained as one of the most effective strategies for prevention.
Health experts agree that Timely immunization not only saves lives, but also prevents serious complications and hospitalizations.
Besides, The importance of vaccination transcends children’s stage and should be considered as a continuous process throughout life to prevent and reduce the symptoms of infectious diseases.
Diseases that protect the vaccination scheme
We all have very clear how to vaccinate our children, but when we talk about 50 and more, especially in our region of the 60s and more, the international guides tell us about six main vaccines, explains Dr. Robinson Pictures, a geriatrician and president of the Latin American and Caribbean Committee of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics.
During the Latin American Educational Seminar of Journalism carried out by the World Week of Immunization in Mexico City, it was mentioned what are the diseases that are prevented by vaccination, these are the main ones according to each group:
In infancy
The basic scheme protects against diseases such as:
- TOSPHERINE
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Measles
- Poliomyelitis
- Rubella
- Mumps
- Hepatitis b
- Rotavirus
- Pneumococcus
Pregnant women
Dr. Dania Abreu, leader of Medical Affairs for Vaccines of Pfizer México, highlights the importance of immunization during pregnancy: when they vaccinate between weeks 24 to 36, what you do is an active immunization to the mother, but passive immunization to the child. That is, you will make the antibodies that will happen through the placenta occur and then when the child is born, it is already protected.
Essential vaccines during pregnancy include:
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- Influenza
- RESPIRATORY SHOPE VIRUS (VSR)
Older adults
Pictures points out that there are six fundamental vaccines for older adults:
- Influenza (annual)
- COVID-19 (annual)
- Pneumococcus
- Respiratory syncotational virus
- Herpes zoster
- TOSPHERINE
When applying these vaccines, paintings mentions that health, well -being and dignity in old age is being generated. They are preventing respiratory diseases that not only kill you, but can generate a disability due to loss of muscle mass, due to loss of functionality.
Vulnerable groups
Dr. Alexandre Naime Barbosa, a specialist in infectious diseases and professor at Paulista State University (UNESP), points out that immunosuppressed people require special attention to vaccination.
There are four most common diseases: influenza, which is the flu virus; COVID-19; Respiratory Sy syncytical virus; and streptococci and pneumonia, which is a bacterium. Those are the main four, explains Barbosa.
According to the specialist, each type of immunosuppression requires an individualized approach in terms of vaccination, but the main message is to be alert about the greatest risk of these people for international, mortality and respiratory diseases.
The impact of pandemic on vaccination schemes
The Covid-19 pandemic had a negative impact on vaccination rates. Barbosa points out that: Covid-19 pandemic was a misfortune in relation to vaccination coverage rates for several reasons. First, because people had no more access to health units. Second, because with Fake News And the pseudoscience that was made against the vaccines of COVID-19, all vaccines were affected.
Experts agree that, although some health systems consider it expensive to invest in vaccination, it is much more expensive not to do so.
If you have diabetes, if you have a cardiovascular disease, a rheumatological disease and do not vaccinate, because you are staying half of the treatment, warn paintings, who also points out that: in cardiovascular disease, the influenza vaccine reduces you mortality by 56% for any cause.
When can I get vaccinated?
An important point highlighted by the specialists is that it is never too late to begin or update the vaccination scheme.
People who do not remember whether or not they are vaccinated, for example, against measles or rubella, can do it. Vaccines are precisely to protect you, they are for people who are at risk, says pictures.
In this context, experts call on the population to find reliable information and consult with health professionals about the most appropriate vaccination scheme according to their age and condition.
However, according to pictures, you have to insistence on influenza and covid, especially in risk population. It is very expensive to invest in vaccination, but believe me that it is more expensive not to invest, but this requires a social awareness, he concludes.