The Autonomous Community of Galicia has demonstrated its commitment to childhood immunization, strengthening its vaccination program, which is a pioneer in Spain and around the world.
What are the main changes to highlight in the new calendar?
Monoclonal inclusion against RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). There is currently no effective vaccine against this virus, and an alternative method of preventing the disease that has just been approved is immunoprophylaxis through the administration of a monoclonal antibody (Nirsevimab). It will be vaccinated during the seasonal campaign in the following situations: newborns in the first hours of life, babies born from 1 April 2023, will be immunized in the first weeks of the campaign, premature babies It will go into each month. For children born after October 1 of the previous year, in addition to the first vaccine, high-risk children will receive a second dose in the following season, always before the age of 2 years.
From 1 August 2023, all babies aged 2 and 4 months will receive the rotavirus vaccine, which was previously free only for premature infants.
For all children born from June 2023 onwards, the meningococcal C vaccine given at 4 months of age has been replaced by the quadrivalent vaccine containing the ACWY serotype.
Also keep in mind other vaccines that have recently been included in the vaccination schedule: Bexsero vaccine for children under 12 months of age and papillomavirus vaccine for boys aged 12 years.
What is a vaccine?
Vaccines are biological products; that is, they contain viruses, bacteria, or parts thereof and are used to prevent infectious diseases in susceptible people.
How do vaccines work?
They are critical in providing immunity to children exposed to serious and sometimes fatal diseases.
Are vaccines safe?
Vaccines are very safe. All vaccines undergo rigorous safety testing, such as clinical trials, before being approved for public use. Countries register and distribute only vaccines that meet strict safety and quality requirements.
Any discomfort after vaccination will be mild and temporary, such as pain at the injection site or a mild fever that is controlled with painkillers.
Some misconceptions about vaccines are that they cause autism, which is completely false. Extensive research shows there is no evidence of a link between vaccines and autism.
Why should I vaccinate my child?
Vaccines save lives. It is estimated that measles vaccine alone prevented more than 21 million deaths between 2000 and 2017.
Vaccines will help protect your child from diseases that can cause serious damage, especially in babies whose immune systems are developing.
Vaccinating children is important to prevent the resurgence of highly contagious diseases such as measles, diphtheria and polio, which have been eradicated in many countries.
Can babies get all these vaccines?
Yes. Many parents worry that so many vaccines will overwhelm their children’s immune systems. However, children are exposed to hundreds of germs every day. In fact, a common cold or sore throat puts your child’s immune system at greater risk than vaccines.
What is herd immunity?
If enough people in a community are immunized against a particular disease, what’s called “herd immunity” can be achieved. When this happens, diseases can’t spread easily from person to person because there is immunity to most diseases. This provides a layer of protection against the disease even for those who cannot be vaccinated.
Additionally, herd immunity prevents disease outbreaks because it prevents diseases from spreading easily. In this way, the disease becomes less common and sometimes even disappears completely.
Can I give my child chickenpox without getting vaccinated?
Although chickenpox is a mild illness that many parents will remember having as children (the vaccine was introduced in 1995), the vaccine eliminates the risk of complications from the disease and prevents children from infecting their siblings, friends and classmates .