La Jornada – Pneumococcal vaccine 90% effective

Report by Ricardo Stanley Vega Barrientos, Head of the Fourth Inpatient Clinical Service of the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Ministry of Health Ismael Cosio Villegas said the pneumococcal vaccine could prevent 90% of the risk of severe pneumonia in more vulnerable people.

He said that the biological agent is safe and effective in preventing the disease and should therefore be used in minors aged 2, 4 and 6 months, with booster vaccinations between 12 and 15 months; 5 to 59 years old Individuals with chronic medical conditions and seniors who must be vaccinated every five years.

He added that immunization at all health units of the health department is free and is part of the national vaccination program. Pneumonia cases occur mainly in the elderly, children under five years old, or people with chronic respiratory disease, diabetes, heart disease; liver, kidney, heart problems, or people with weakened immune systems.

Children under the age of five are more susceptible to pneumonia due to their immature immune systems; older adults experience physiological changes that affect innate immunity due to aging.