Of 800 whooping cough cases, 63% were children under five – eju.tv

The country has recorded 800 whooping cough cases so far, 63% of whom were children under five years old. To date, the departments in Santa Cruz, Beni and Chuquisaca have concentrated all patients. Eight deaths were also recorded, including a child several months old.

Claudia Carrizales, country director for the Expanded Program on Immunization (PAI), explained that Santa Cruz reported 846 patients, Beni 43 and Chuquisaca 4.

Given the current situation, especially in the province of Santa Cruz, the official said the network of cities in the region is preparing for large-scale vaccination campaigns.

Vaccinations will take place between September 13 and 30, when unvaccinated children will be immunized and doses completed for boys and girls who started and need to continue the program.

He noted that the Ministry of Health has asked all departmental health services (headquarters) to implement a shortened immunization schedule.

plan

The plan includes vaccination starting at 6 weeks of age, continuing with a second dose at 10 weeks, and then a third dose at 14 weeks.

Carrizales urges parents to start vaccinating girls and boys born in mid-August at six weeks (one and a half months) to reduce the risk of contracting whooping cough, or whooping cough, and protect them from serious illness that can lead to death .

In the country, children receive the pentavalent vaccine, which protects against five diseases at once: whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, pneumonia, meningitis and hepatitis B. The vaccine is available at all public health centers in the country and is available to the public free of charge.