The president of la Xunta, Alfonso Ruedahas announced that Galicia will become “world pioneer“by incorporating into their system the vaccine to immunize the children population in front of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In addition, the regional Executive has agreed to extend the rotavirus immunization plan.
With a special condition this year, after the relaxation of measures adopted during the covid pandemic such as the use of the mask, Rueda recalled that the syncytial infects the 90 percent of children under two years old It is the virus that is behind bronchiolitis and numerous pneumonias.
With a special affectation this year, after the relaxation of measures adopted during the covid pandemic Like the use of a mask, Rueda recalled that syncytial infects 90 percent of children under two years of age. It is the virus that is behind bronchiolitis and numerous pneumonias.
In fact, in recent months it has caused he hospitalization of more than a thousand babies, with an average stay of six days. Per year, it causes more than 10,000 pediatric consultations in Galicia; and the objective is to reduce both medical assistance and hospitalizations.
Rueda has ratified that Galicia will become a “world pioneer” since it incorporates this vaccine after the recent validation by the European Medicines Agency (EMA for its acronym in English). It will begin to be dispensed this year in autumn, the time recommended by health experts.
In terms of investment, the Galician president has indicated that the incorporation of this new vaccine and the expansion of the rotavirus vaccine represents a total of 5.1 million euros.
Incorporating the vaccine, “a historical milestone” for Galicia
The researcher and head of Pediatrics at the University Hospital Complex of Santiago (CHUS), Federico Martinoncelebrates that the “historic milestone” of incorporating the vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus to the children’s calendar in Galicia will be able to avoid “almost 80 percent” of the hospitalizations and the medical attention that it currently generates.
Through his Twitter account, the coordinator of the pediatric clinical trials and vaccine research unit of the Health Research Institute () welcomes the fact that the Galician Community is “the first in the world to take this measure” against a virus that is “the equivalent in children to covid in adults”.
This is a “historic milestone that reinforces the idea that investing in the present and the future is investing in vaccines,” Martinón points out. And it is that the syncytial virus -popularly known as virus of the bronchiolitis— is “the most frequent cause” of hospitalization of infants. In fact, each year there are hundreds of admissions and tens of thousands of consultations and emergencies for this infection in Galicia alone. Despite the fact that this virus usually occurs between October and March, this year the figures have doubled “after being temporarily disappeared by the pandemic,” warns the researcher.
“Under normal conditions, this virus hospitalizes one in 50 infants those it infects in its first year of life. 5-6% end up entering intensive care, needing respiratory support, “adds Martinón, on his Twitter. In addition, he warns that” many of these children “remained with their lungs ‘touched’ after this infection.
The vaccine will be added to the calendar in October
The vaccine that will be incorporated into the Galician children’s calendaror is it one of the so-called ‘passive vaccines’ –it already contains the defenses that the patient needs and that block the virus, unlike conventional ones, which generate an immune reaction– that had recently received approval from the European Medicines Agency.
“Galicia has pioneeringly announced its inclusion in the vaccination calendar, “the first in the world to access this vaccine will be Galician children!”, underlines the expert, who finally states: “Today I cannot be more proud of Galicia and of being Galician, and I hope that others will follow our example”.
After the publication of this thread by Martinón, the president of the Xunta, Alfonso Rueda, has responded with another tweet in which he says “thank you”. “In this you know that you have a lot to do with it. Our healthcare is at a very high level and the effort is worth it if all the Sergas professionals accompany it,” concludes Rueda.
Although it may contain statements, data or notes from health institutions or professionals, the information contained in Redacción Médica is edited and prepared by journalists. We recommend to the reader that any health-related questions be consulted with a health professional.
