Vaccination against poliomyelitis began in Cuba in 1962 and in only four months the contagious disease was eliminated. However, in order to keep it eradicated, it is necessary to carry out an annual Polio Vaccination Campaign, which began its second stage in the territory of Holguín on June 17.
During its deployment, about 24,700 children from one month old to two years, 11 months and 29 days old should be vaccinated, who were administered one dose during the first stage, which took place between April and May of this year, while about 11,300 nine-year-old children will be reactivated with this single dose.
The campaign, in its 63rd edition, will take place simultaneously throughout the country until June 21, with a recovery week scheduled between June 24 and 28 for specific cases where immunization is not recommended, such as those children who currently have vomiting, diarrhea, fever or a depressed immune system.
The oral immunization is carried out in Primary Health Care, either in doctors’ offices, polyclinics and points enabled for such purpose. The parents of those vaccinated should ensure that 30 minutes before and after receiving the dose, the child does not ingest water or other food, to prevent the vaccine from being eliminated by vomiting and regurgitation and because the chlorine in the water also inactivates the vaccine.
Currently, the Cuban population under 71 years of age is protected with oral anti-polio. Despite the fact that since 1962 this disease has been eradicated in our country, the first in the Americas to eliminate it, it still persists in other parts of the world, hence the importance of children receiving this vaccine.
If global efforts to eradicate this disease are successful, one day we will not need the vaccine. However, until that happens, its administration will be necessary.
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