The Government of Japan and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) handed over to the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (mispas) two cold rooms and freezer rooms, equipped with all necessary fittings, mechanical and electrical equipment, designed to expand the storage capacity of vaccines and thus strengthen the cold chain in the Dominican Republic. Invested $830,342.47.
The two cold rooms will be installed within the Department of Vaccines and Immunization (DIV). The donation included 243 refrigerators, which were distributed across the country to facilitate access to vaccines and immunizations for the general public, especially children.
The award ceremony was presided over by Masahiro Takagi, Ambassador of Japan to the Dominican Republic, and Dr. Masahiro Takagi, Minister of Health. Daniel RiveraAnyoli Sanabria, UNICEF Deputy Representative and Dr Aída Lucía Vargas, Director, Vaccine Preventable Diseases (DIV).
Public Health Secretary Dr. Daniel Rivera thanked the Japanese government and UNICEF for their donations, saying “this cold room and the equipment found here will not only be used to produce vaccines against COVID-19, but will also leave more routine The installed capacity of the entire immunization program is planned, which helps get biologics safely and free of charge to every girl and boy in this country.”
He also announced that the Ministry of Health will build a warehouse in the province of Azua, where the project’s second cold room will be installed.
Masahiro Takagi, Japan’s ambassador to the Dominican Republic, said: “For Japanese society, this represents a social commitment to help other countries fulfill their potential, especially when it comes to the health of the most vulnerable. Through this support, we seek to expand The ability to routinely immunize Dominican infants to benefit and protect them from immune-preventable diseases.
UNICEF Deputy Representative Anoli Sanabria said: “Through this strategic alliance, we are collaborating to increase vaccination rates and close the existing vaccination gap across the country. We are deeply grateful to Japan and the Dominican Republic Governments place their trust in UNICEF as we work together in immunization campaigns around the world, recognizing that vaccinated children have a greater chance of surviving, developing and doing better in school, which contributes to their benefits in the advancement of lives and communities”.
cold room
The two units consist of 88 SureChill brand refrigerators with a net storage capacity of 72.5 liters, 110 Vestfrost 98 liter capacity refrigerators, 45 Vestfrost 145 liter capacity refrigerators, 30 RTMS or remote temperature monitors for the refrigerators and cold rooms and 50 with a capacity of 22.5 liters to transport biological agents during vaccination.
The Vaccines Preventive Diseases Agency (DIV) has distributed refrigerators and other cold chain equipment to all provincial bureaux and health departments in the Ministry, as well as the National Health Service (SNS) and its national network of providers, which will enable them to properly store vaccines , and ensure their optimal temperature.
This collaboration includes training managers, technicians and health personnel in the use and maintenance of the above-mentioned equipment; within the framework of this contribution, two Toyota Land Cruisers are included, which are ) guidelines; these vehicles have an interior temperature range of +2°C – +8°C (the temperature range at which most vaccines are stored) and act as mobile cold rooms.
The event was attended by Dr. Miguel Rodríguez Viñas, Undersecretary for Health Sector Strengthening and Development, Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, as well as other field directors and managers from the above-mentioned Ministry.
The importance of vaccines
Immunization is the process by which a person develops resistance to disease through exposure to certain diseases or through vaccination.
Vaccines also stimulate the body’s immune system to protect a person from infection or disease. Immunization protects against vaccine-preventable diseases such as cervical cancer, polio, measles, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis A and B, pneumonia infection, rotavirus diarrheal disease, and Bacterial meningitis.
cold chain
this “Cryogenic transport system for fresh food” It is a logistics process for the storage, preservation, handling and distribution of immune biological products, the purpose of which is to ensure that they are stored within a specified temperature range so that they do not lose their immunity and to ensure the maintenance of their immune effects. Electricity is created and managed from the moment it is first used. Having managed the cold chain for over 40 years, the Dominican Republic knows that temperatures must remain within the limits prescribed for each vaccine, as the effectiveness and safety of immunizations depends on this. Different vaccines have different sensitivities to heat.
Vaccination status in Latin America and the Caribbean
Data from Latin America and the Caribbean show that 3.9 percent of children in the richest decile have not been vaccinated, compared with 11.6 percent in the poorest decile, reflecting this gap. Regional vaccination rates have generally declined.
According to the latest estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, Latin America and the Caribbean is still far from universal coverage despite reaching more babies in 2022 compared with the previous year (2021). long way to go. .
In the Dominican nation, work is underway to ensure that the population continues to complete its routinely scheduled vaccination program, which, like the rest of the world, has fallen behind due to the COVID-19 pandemic.