Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Thanks to efforts of the Pan-American Health Organisation and a collective effort on the part of member countries in America vaccination campaigns are now a regular, growing initiative: in 2003 campaigns were undertaken in 19 countries; in 2004 in 23, and in 2005 the number grew again. This year 39 countries in the American hemisphere will be involved in the America Vaccination Week 22 - 29 April
Last year in America Latin and the Caribbean some 38 million people were vaccinated including children, women in child-bearing age and other groups at risk . This year 39 countries are committed to vaccinating some 26 million against polio, scarlet fever, chicken pox, diphtheria, tetanus, yellow fever and influenza.
Vaccines are a fundamental necessity and the main people to benefit are children, vulnerable people such as minor and indigenous communities, people living in slums around large American cities and in districts where medical care is scarce.
This year Bolivia says it will start its campaign to eliminate scarlet fever concentrating on almost 4 million men and women aged 15 to 39.
As in Bolivia’s case, national targets are determined on the basis of necessity and the specific characteristics of each countries epidemiological situation.
In the Andes Region the target is to reach 8.1 million people, in Central America and Spanish speaking Caribbean 2 million and in French and English speaking Caribbean 40.000, in Mexico 10 million, in Cono Sud and Brazil 15.6 million. The countries of North America and some Caribbean countries will focus on awareness building campaigns on the importance of vaccination.
The Pan-American Health Organisation and the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organisation are working to improve health and life quality of the people in the respective countries. (AP (3/3/2006 Agenzia Fides; Righe:32; Parole: 370)
