Vaccinations in Las Américas affect 1 million people in DR

The Vaccination Days of the Americas, which started in April, covered 1,311,932 people in the country, achieving 120.7% immunization coverage for diseases that may pose a risk to the population.

The information was provided by Dr. Aída Lucía Vargas of the Agency for Immunization and Immunization, who noted that the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) initiative, which ended two weeks ago, targets children aged 7 to 7 years. 15. Agricultural and construction workers reduce diphtheria and tetanus among these groups.

He stressed that booster doses against the above-mentioned diseases after every decade are important because there is no permanent immunity to them.

According to the Directorate General of Epidemiology (Digepi), as of 12 August there have been 25 suspected cases of tetanus and 9 deaths, while 19 cases of diphtheria infection and only 1 death have been registered so far.

Vargas recalled that in order to control the vaccine-preventable situation, they also carried out door-to-door vaccination operations in hard-to-reach places, and set up 1,421 free serum vaccination posts across the country.

“There is no excuse for parents, mothers or guardians not to take their children vaccinated in time,” the official said, explaining that due to the country’s epidemiological situation, the national vaccination schedule includes immunization biologics. It is placed from birth to prevent other diseases such as hepatitis B, whooping cough and meningitis.

Decades of work have freed the Dominican Republic from measles and polio, he said.