The Ministry of People’s Power for Health has arranged a total of 3,585 points throughout the country, in order to carry out the National Vaccination Plan ordered by the National Executive and thus guarantee the immunization of children from 2 months of life up to 10 years of age, as well as women in a state of pregnancy, despite the context of the Coronavirus pandemic that Venezuela and the whole world is experiencing, as reported Minister Carlos Alvarado on Wednesday.
From Carabobo state, in the Valencia municipality, the head of the Health portfolio explained at the Santa Inés Comprehensive Community Health Area (ASIC) that these vaccination points will be located in open spaces, sports fields and in the schools.
“Always in open spaces, always seeking adequate ventilation, healthy distancing and thus guaranteeing the task with the health workers and the organized community, the care of all the boys and girls”, he added.
He reminded to avoid crowds since it is an extended journey from 09:00 in the morning to 05:00 in the afternoon, which with the organized community, the street chiefs and the Health Committees organize the boys and girls so they assist with their vaccination cards to present themselves and take the vaccine.
He pointed out that the goal is to maintain high immunization coverage and achieve the elimination of Measles as was achieved in 2019. “We already have 1 year without Measles and to achieve this goal, we have to vaccinate our children. We have had no diphtheria since January”, he said.
Minister Carlos Alvarado explained that the vaccination campaign is being resumed after a long period of quarantine as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the vaccination goal in the country to diminish a little.
He also stressed that President Nicolás Maduro has ordered the vaccination journey to start throughout the country, and it will be until November 30, 2020: “There are two months of intensive work to achieve maximum vaccination coverage”, he said.
He stressed that on this journey is being given the complete vaccination scheme that corresponds to 11 vaccines that protect against 12 diseases, which highlighted that for newborns they are placing BCG and Hepatitis B vaccines.
Another of the vaccines that are being given to children 2, 4 and 6 months old, is the Polio and the Pentavalent vaccine, with three doses each.
He also indicated that 1-year-old children are given the vaccine against Yellow Fever and MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella), and added that 5-year-old children receive the Polio booster vaccine and the Pentavalent, as well as invited all pregnant women to get the Tetanus Toxoid vaccine.
“This is a very special day that is being carried out in a pandemic and therefore has particular characteristics to avoid the contagion of the Coronavirus, therefore we must all have strict prevention and biosafety protocols such as the use of the face mask, we must keep our healthy distancing, in order to avoid proximity and contagion”, he indicated.
He added that this vaccination journey is being carried out in outdoor spaces to avoid the crowding of people, the air conditioners, and thus reduce the sources of contagion of COVID-19. “We want this vaccination journey to be a safe one so that everyone can be sure that their child will be vaccinated and will not contract any disease”, he added.
He emphasized that this is an effort by the National Government that, amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, guarantees timely and quality vaccination to all children.
