By Violeta Villar / www.lawebdelasalud.com
The cause of this epidemic is Coronavirus disease Make it clear that vaccination is not just for the child population: by reaching adults, there is a good chance of protecting society as a whole.
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It is also a pillar of healthy aging in terms of adults and older adults. Dr Anna Beren Arrauzthe speaker is at Second Virtual Congress of the Panama Academy of Medicine and Surgery, They will be held on August 24, August 25 and August 26 respectively.
expert Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Dr. Arauz is also the associate medical director of the center, which focuses on adults and older adults. Hospital Santo Tomás, Professor, University of Panama (UP) and a member of the Panamanian National Investigative System (SIN).
During the meeting, he gave a presentation on vaccinations for adults: this is no joke, which opened with a reflection on the need for doctors to ask all adult patients whether their vaccination schedules have been updated.
Immunity can be lost over time
Vaccines, he observed, are one of the main preventive strategies, and in this case they are a challenge, whether for ordinary adults, pregnant women, health workers, travelers or immunosuppressed people.
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this the elderlyHe emphasized that, in a special way, exposure to Respiratory diseases.
Lower respiratory infections remain the fourth leading cause of death globally.
2021 in PanamaCoronavirus disease is the leading cause of death, and pneumonia ranks eighth.
For this, there is four infections He thinks it’s important to focus on this because Panama also has a vaccine to avoid them or reduce their risk:
- influenza
- pneumococcus
- Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (Tdap)
- Coronavirus disease
In addition to these four respiratory viral and even bacterial infections, “we have an opportunity to protect adults from HPV infection, Shingles Although there is no vaccine in Panama, it is widely used elsewhere. Hepatitis B, of course, especially in diabetics.”
this Dr Anna Beren Arrauz The underlying reasons for vaccination in adulthood are given:
- this immunity disappears with time
- have preventable death with the vaccine
- The older you are, the more likely you are to have complications of common diseases
- this Morbidity Vaccines are preventable
- Reduced number of over-hospitalizations
- Vaccine-preventable diseases lead to unemployment
- medical complications at that age
explain the benefits vaccine is evident in children, but Coronavirus disease Massive deaths in the elderly, and even the risks of complications and hospitalization, could be avoided.
He reiterated the need to use vaccines as a tool to avoid consequences disease and have healthy aging:” Vaccination is a pillar healthy aging“, explain.
“inside elderly We must use all vaccines, but we must not forget that part of the population between the ages of 18 and 65, who may have certain diseases chronic, Whether it’s high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, liver disease or kidney failure. “
Smokers, even those who are chronically ill, will benefit from this vaccination.
He pointed out that although the benefits of vaccines are clear, according to data from countries such as USA (2013-2014), 2013 flu vaccination It only achieves substantial coverage (65%) among those over 65, and less (32%) among those aged 18-49.
What are the barriers that affect adults and older adults?
Deputy Director of Medical Affairs st thomas hospital Lists major barriers to getting adults vaccinated, lack of access to services, difficulty explaining benefits due to time, lack of knowledge among providers and cost, but this is not the case Panama where are they free
He emphasized that physicians’ consultations and relationships with patients present an ideal opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination.
One factor in favor is that there are few contraindications to one’s application of the drug. vaccine.
In any case, only severe allergic-type reactions to vaccine components due to severe immunodeficiency or a certain type of disease will be observed.
Protective Vaccines
Dr Anna Beren Arrauz Outlines the vaccines available to adults under the National Vaccination Schedule Panama and new indications in the US.
He described that in my caseinfluenza Special attention should be paid because the infection mostly occurs in people over 65 years old.
It is a vaccine (quaternary inactivated virus) available for free at: Panama.
It is recommended to apply it within a few months April may. In addition to the elderly, health workers of any age and people with chronic diseases should receive it.
compared to pneumococcus “It’s associated with high morbidity and mortality.”
The introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine has brought down cases, he said. It is applied in a sequential scheme, and there will be new options in the future.
Regarding Tdap, experts state that anyone over the age of 19 should take it at least once.
“Adults with pertussis They are a source of infection for others,” and thus require vaccine prevention, especially since it has been established over the years that we have lost immunity to the disease.
He said it is necessary to analyze the epidemiological performance to determine which vaccines will be implemented in the future.
in the case of Coronavirus disease, With more than 8 million doses of the vaccine administered, Panama has managed to get 81% of its population at least one dose, and “we know that vaccination is reflected in a reduction in mortality and in fewer ICU patients”.
s future COVID-19 vaccine (Fall 2023) will be monovalent, targeting the omicron XBB 1.5 subline first, he details.
this Dr. Arrauz Vaccines are also mentioned HPV virus and the importance of immunization hepatitis B, The seroconversion rate is 90%, and it is especially recommended for high-risk adults, immunosuppressed patients, and transplant recipients.
He urged people planning travel to consider vaccinations depending on the destination:
- yellow fever
- Hepatitis A
- typhoid fever
- anger
- Japanese encephalitis
- Central European encephalitis
Regarding the shingles vaccine, I hope Panama can have it. In the United States, it is recommended for those over the age of 60.
this US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves first vaccine respiratory syncytial virus People aged 60 or over. In the US alone, 60,000 to 120,000 older adults are hospitalized and 6,000 to 10,000 die as a result, according to the CDC.
He is reflected in front of this panorama vaccine selection To protect the elderly, health workers must focus on instruction and referrals to patients to avoid preventable diseases.
He said we must keep open dialogue Together with patients, take every opportunity to address vaccine concerns and recommend vaccines without fear.
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