The Undersecretary of Public Health of Antioquia, Natalia Montoya Palacio, delivered some encouraging figures for those vaccinated with the first and second doses against covid-19. To date, there is 90% of the population that is vaccinated with the first dose and 77% that already has the second dose of the biological.
“Antioquia has managed to advance in the complete schemes, which are the ones that should really interest us”, Montoya Palacio said.
However, As for the vaccine boosters, the results have not been as positive: “With the boosters there have been difficulties because people relax after they receive the first doses.” And that is reflected in the figures: only 46% of the population is vaccinated with the third dose and 12% with the fourth dose.
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These figures show that there are many people who have not had access to vaccination boosters — the populations that have been vaccinated the least with the booster are those of the elderly and children. The fact that the entire population is not vaccinated influences the peaks of respiratory infections and the increase in cases of covid-19 that have been experienced in the Antioquia territory.
“In the first week of December there was a report of 75 cases and until the week of December 12, reported 1,300 positive cases of covid-19”. ICU occupations and deaths also increased, according to Undersecretary Montoya Palacio.
Although this panorama affects the increase in cases, there are other factors that influence such as the rainy season and the December festivities, since people gather to share with friends and family.
The invitation from the Secretariat is that if you are one of the people who is still missing one of the first doses or any of the reinforcements, be encouraged to put it on to take care of yourself and others both during this holiday season like in 2023.
“We must complete the covid-19 vaccination scheme and protect our families at this time when we want to be together. At this time there are biologics available in the IPS to complete the scheme”, said Blanca Restrepo Velásquez, coordinator of the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI) in Antioquia.
“To the vaccine of one”
To promote vaccination in the department, the Sectional Secretariat of Health and Social Protection of Antioquia has implemented different strategies aimed at strengthening, motivating and encouraging in the 125 municipalities of the department effective vaccination and you can do it at any municipal hospital center. In this way, it seeks to increase vaccination rates (mainly reinforcements) and achieve the goals established by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection.
The Ministry of Health promotes the initiative “To the vaccine of one which, together with a shock plan and communication strategies, is proposed to strengthen vaccination and achieve coverage in the regular vaccination scheme and covid-19 scheme.
In this regard, Blanca Restrepo Velásquez, coordinator of the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI) – Antioquia reminds us of the times and vaccines of the regular schedule:
-For children between 3 and 5 years old, Sinovac is applied.
-For those from 6 to 11 years old, Sinovac and Moderna apply.
-For young people between 12 and 17 years old, there are Pfizer, Moderna and Sinovac.
-For people over 18 years of age, any of the available biologicals can be applied.
These vaccines are available in the IPS and in all municipal hospital centers, according to what they say from the Ministry of Health. Sometimes these biologics even expire because there is no one to use them.
“There is a need for more awareness about vaccination. There were better results when they required the full vaccination card in restaurants, many people went to get vaccinated and now that they don’t require it anywhere, they feel that it is not necessary, but it is,” says the undersecretary.
Not only is vaccination against covid-19 important
Although vaccination against covid-19 is currently urgent due to the post-pandemic context, the EPI coordinator, Blanca Restrepo Velásquez, explains that in the department there are other diseases that certain populations must take care of and are also available in health centers. Colombian health.
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For example, it says, all newborns should be vaccinated against hepatitis B and tuberculosis, infants of 2, 4, 6, 7, 12, 18 months and 5 years require Pentavalent, Triple Viral, Antipolio, Rotavirus, Pneumococcus and DPT (against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus). Girls ages 9 to 17 can prevent cervical cancer by getting vaccinated against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
Also, children between the ages of 1 and 11 must receive the yellow fever vaccine, those born between 2010 and 2019 require an additional dose of measles and rubella and starting at age 10, girls should be vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus (DT).