2024-07-26 12:33:27
Starting in August, a vaccination campaign against measles and polio in Guatemalawhich seeks to vaccinate children from 2 to 5 years old with an additional dose. If your children are in this age range, do not hesitate to take them to the clinic closest and protect them against these diseases that mainly affect children their age.
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Ministry of Health announces vaccination campaign against measles and polio in Guatemala
He Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance —MSPAS— of Guatemala has launched the vaccination campaign against measles and polio in Guatemala called «Vaccination in action!» to prevent these diseases in Guatemalan children. This campaign is aimed at girls and boys from 2 to 5 years old, who will receive an additional dose of the corresponding vaccines, regardless of their previous vaccination schedule.
The initiative is supported by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), UNICEF, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), among other institutions, and aims to vaccinate 1,397,429 children across the country.
Campaign details
The campaign will take place from Saturday, August 3 to Saturday, October 5 nationwide. During this period, parents will be able to take their children to receive the additional dose at any health center in the country. In addition, mobile vaccination days in places with high traffic of people, as well as in schools, churches, daycare centers, markets, terminals and bus stops. The medical units of the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS) will also be involved in this campaign, implementing brigades to facilitate access to vaccines.
Fighting viral diseases that mainly affect children
Measles and polio are viral diseases that can have serious consequences for children’s health. Guatemala has been classified as a medium risk for polio at the regional level in the Americas for the second consecutive year.
Poliomyelitis, also known as “polio» is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus, which primarily affects children under five years of age. This virus can invade the nervous system and cause irreversible paralysis in the legs or arms. In severe cases, polio can be fatal if it affects the respiratory muscles. Transmission occurs mainly through contact with infected feces and, to a lesser extent, through nasal or throat secretions.
For its part, the measles Measles is a highly contagious disease caused by the measles virus. It is transmitted through the air via respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Initial symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that begins on the face and spreads to the rest of the body. Although it can be serious, especially in young children and people with weakened immune systems, the disease can be effectively prevented through vaccination.
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