The head of the Buenos Aires government, Jorge Macri, and the Minister of Health, Fernán Quirós, announced this Tuesday the City plan to combat dengue. In this context, Quirós explained the decision to vaccinate people between 15 and 39 years oldwhile those older than 60 were excluded of the scheme. He also denied some Rumors about the severity of dengue reinfection.
Initially, the free dengue vaccination campaign will begin with Teenagers aged 15 to 19for whom the City has acquired 60,000 dosesIt is estimated that there are around 1,000 in this group. 120,000 young peopleso if demand exceeds the quantity available, additional purchases will be made from the Japanese laboratory Takeda.
“The vaccine is just an additional tool and will not stop the outbreakbut it will help reduce transmission in certain groups,” Quirós said. He also clarified that initially the use of the vaccine was not considered a public health measurebut it was finally decided to apply it.
Why those over 60 are not included
Quirós explained that people over 60 years of age will not receive the vaccine for free, since There is insufficient scientific data on its effectiveness in this age group.“We cannot base decisions on assumptions, we need evidence,” the minister said.
Demystifying the second dengue infection
Regarding popular concern about the second dengue infection, which is believed to be more dangerous than the first, Quirós said that this belief is inaccurate.. “The risk of developing a serious condition in a second infection It is minimal, only 0.2% or 0.3%“Most people will experience symptoms similar to the first time,” the official said.
What will the vaccination plan be like?
The vaccination plan will be developed in progressively and in stagesin line with the national guidelinesas confirmed by the Buenos Aires government. In this sense, the inoculation will begin with the Teenagers from 15 to 19; then it will gradually advance with the young people aged 20 to 29 and finally, with the adults of 30 to 39 years old.
From September 18, appointments will begin to be granted through the Ministry of Health GCABA website. In total, there will be 1,000 appointments available. 12 vaccination centersdistributed in the different neighborhoods of the City, including Hospitals, CeSACS, and extra-hospital posts.
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Meanwhile, the Government is working in public spaces to prevent mosquitoes from reproducing, with the aim of preparing the City for the summer. On the other hand, the city administration maintained the importance of residents doing work in their homes, which consists of paying attention to the removal of junk, and also reporting possible breeding grounds for mosquitoes by calling 147, through BOTI (11 5050-0147) or at the link “Report breeding farm”.
Nation launched its vaccination plan
After launching the Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Dengue 2024-2025 in Mayin the days before the arrival of spring, now the Ministry of Health of the Nation confirmed the acquisition of the vaccine Quadrivalent to combat mosquito-borne disease.
According to details from the national portfolio, the first to be vaccinated They will be young people between 15 and 19 years oldThe campaign will begin this month in priority departments of the regions of the NOA, NEA and Center according to cumulative incidence rate, population densitysocial determinants, access to care and quality, among other variables analyzed.
In turn, the Ministry led by Mario Russo He added that for the first stage of vaccination the national government will provide vaccines to Catamarca, Chaco, Cordoba, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Rioja, Misiones, Salta, Santa Fe, and Santiago del Estero.
Expectations for the next dengue season
Quirós also referred to the possible severity of the upcoming dengue season. Although no cases have yet been recorded in the City, the minister noted that the periodicity of dengue waves was broken in 2023-2024. While previously strong seasons occurred every three years, In the last two years, the outbreaks were more intense than expected.
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The minister warned that it is not possible to predict with certainty whether this trend will continue, but urged the population to continue taking precautions, such as cleaning containers where water can accumulate. Despite projections of a warmer summer, Quirós was optimistic in pointing out that high temperatures could be accompanied by a drier climate, which would make it difficult for the Aedes aegypti mosquito to proliferate. “Without water, the mosquito larva cannot survive,” he concluded.
News in development.-
Source: Ambito
