This May 2 begins childhood vaccination at the national level against polio, rubella and measles. Health plans to vaccinate 3.7 million minors between 1 and 12 years of age.
The 2023 national vaccination campaign begins this Tuesday, and to promote it, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) uses ‘Máximo’, an animated character from the 90s.
In this new vaccination day, it is planned to immunize against poliomyelitis, measles and rubella to all children of the country between 1 to 12 years.
Sharon case: the judge who granted habeas corpus to ex-partner is suspended
“Vaccines are very good and safe to protect your baby,” says Máximo the bird in a MSP communication video on his Twitter account.
The ‘return’ of Máximo was announced last July 2022, as an attempt by the Government to end malnutrition in the country.
President Guillermo Lasso attended the presentation of the vaccination campaign in Guayaquil.
“Polio, rubella, and measles are preventable and only depend on the responsibility of the parents,” Lasso said at the beginning of the journey, which will last 10 weeks.
The Government plans to vaccinate 3.7 million children against these diseases nationwide.
Vaccination will avoid future risks
During the day, medical brigades they will visit public schools and collegesand child care centers to apply the first dose of vaccines.
Immunization against these diseases is part of the basic vaccination schedule for a minor, and its scarcity in the public health system had provoked complaints from parents.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) all children should receive a schedule of vaccination against polio, rubella and measles. If they do not do so, minors run risks that may jeopardize their future:
-
The poliomyelitis, or commonly called poliois a highly contagious disease caused by the virus of the same name.
The vast majority of poliovirus infections cause no symptoms, but 10 out of 100 people infected with this virus may have some flu-like symptoms.
Despite the efforts for its eradication, at the moment, in some poor countries, there are still children with permanent paralysis due to this virus.
-
Of all the diseases that can be prevented with a vaccine at an early age, measles is the one that causes the greatest risk.
This infection is highly contagious, and is easily transmitted by droplets from the nose, mouth and pharynx of infected persons.
Initial symptoms consist of high fever, runny nose, conjunctival injection, and small white spots on the inside of the cheek.
Although most patients recover in two to three weeks, measles can cause complications in malnourished children or with another underlying disease.
It can cause blindness, encephalitissevere diarrhea, ear infections and pneumonia.
-
While rubella is also a contagious viral disease, transmitted through the respiratory tract, and symptoms usually appear within three weeks after exposure.
In children, the illness is usually mild, with low fevers, nausea, and transient rashes.
But the adults, not vaccinated on time and as children, they can develop arthritis and pain in the extremities.
*News published at 06:53 on May 2 and updated at 10:48 with information from the President and the risks of diseases.