Ecuador ready for mass vaccination that will protect girls and boys from serious diseases
Quito, March 10, 2023
Within the framework of strengthening the first level of care, a batch of 406 thousand BCG vaccines arrived in the country. This biological is applied within the first 24 hours of life or up to 11 months of age and is part of the regular scheme authorized in the country.
BCG is an attenuated vaccine, which prevents diseases such as miliary tuberculosis in children or tuberculous meningitis. It affects the lungs, other parts of the body and can even cause death in infants.
The health authorities have focused their attention on the first 1,000 days of life, from the beginning of pregnancy to 24 months of age, a stage known as the “window of opportunity”, to prevent and reduce Childhood Chronic Malnutrition (DCI). In this sense, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) planned the purchase of 1.2 million vaccines, in order to guarantee their existence in all establishments that attend deliveries as one of the prioritized services of the National Strategy Ecuador Grows Without Malnutrition. Future deliveries will take place until December 2023.
Although this type of vaccine (BCG) is applied in hospitals within the first hours of life of babies; The importance of vaccination is based on the need for parents and caregivers to take the infants at the times and doses established as appropriate for the rest of the vaccines to protect the health of children from serious diseases such as poliomyelitis, acute diarrhea, measles , among other.
The application of all types of vaccine is carried out in the health centers distributed in the 24 provinces of the nation, from Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; or in the case of health brigades according to scheduled visits.
The MSP reminds the population that the available vaccines are safe, free and of good quality.
#JuntosPorLaSalud