Health Minister

Timely immunization is essential to avoid the exponential increase in respiratory conditions in our country.

Taking advantage of the “Winter 2023 Campaign” is the best option to increase the body’s defenses against these diseases.

Influenza is a viral infection that mainly affects the nose, throat, bronchial tubes, and occasionally the lungs. It is easily transmitted from one person to another through droplets and small particles expelled by coughing or sneezing.

The main symptoms of influenza, to which attention should be paid, are fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches and headaches, chills, fatigue and, in some cases, vomiting and diarrhea.

There are also warning signs to be aware of:

IN CHILDREN

• Troubled breathing or shortness of breath.
• Bluish color of the skin.
• You are not drinking enough fluids.
• He doesn’t wake up easily or interact with other people.
• He’s so upset that he doesn’t want to be picked up.
• You have flu symptoms that get better, but come back with a fever and worsening cough.
• Fever with rash.

IN ADULTS

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen.
• sudden dizziness
• Confusion.
• Forceful or constant vomiting.

An effective way to protect against the growth of cases is through vaccination. The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare is urged to take advantage of the “Winter 2023 Campaign” to reduce the risk of serious cases, with the quadrivalent dose against influenza.

Getting vaccinated reduces the risk of intensive care unit admission by up to 74% in children and 82% in adults.

It should be remembered that the vaccine is free for the entire population, mainly for people in risk groups:

• Children from 6 to 35 months of age.
• Health workers.
• Embarrassed, puerperal.
• People with underlying disease.
• People aged 60 and over.

Early vaccination of the largest possible number of the population, and in a short time, is fundamental and effective against COVID-19 and influenza, which are much more frequent with the entry of low temperatures, typical of the autumn-winter season.

In this sense, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, through the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI), carries out the “Winter 2023” vaccination campaign, to immunize the entire national territory against the aforementioned diseases, with the main objective of preventing mortality and serious morbidity, in subgroups of the population, defined by the biomedical conditions that are associated with a higher risk of death and complications caused or secondary to infection by the virus, and of preserving the integrity of essential services.

Who can get vaccinated?

The bivalent vaccine against COVID-19, a single and annual dose, is applied to people 6 years of age and older, with the following interval:

– 4 months after the second dose, or

– 6 months after the booster dose, regardless of whether or not you received the first or second booster.

In the case of pregnant women, having completed 12 weeks of gestation, they may receive the vaccine, with a medical indication, through a medical certificate signed and sealed by the professional.

On the other hand, the quadrivalent vaccine against influenza is applied from six months of life onwards. It is free for the entire population, mainly for those who are part of risk groups, that is:

– Children from 6 to 35 months of age.

– Health workers.

– Pregnant.

– Postpartum women.

– People with underlying disease.

– People aged 60 and over.

The doses, which can be applied at the same time, are available at the country’s vaccination centers, which can be verified at the following link: https://www.vacunate.gov.py/

Vaccination day at the National Sports Secretariat (SND)

In order to promote this MSPyBS campaign, today, Monday, April 17, a vaccination day is being held at the National Sports Secretariat (SND), to protect officials and the entire community that regularly attends the Complex.

On the occasion, Dr. Héctor Castro, director of the PAI, thanked the SND authorities for the great institutional commitment in generating healthy lifestyle habits and in supporting the prevention work promoted with national campaigns. of vaccination.

People who wish to take advantage of this vaccination day at the complex can attend until 5:00 p.m.

to take into account

This year, the “Winter 2023” campaign will end on July 14, don’t waste time and protect yourself through vaccination.

After registering a period of decrease in cases, there is currently a slight increase in the disease and hospitalizations.

The cases of COVID-19 are progressively increasing after a decrease in the number of confirmed cases. “From having had 80 to 90 cases per week, we are currently registering 160 cases per week, after the period we call the honeymoon, which lasts approximately 90 to 100 days,” explained the general director of Health Surveillance, Dr. Guillermo Sequera.

Asunción and Central, are the regions that present an increase in cases of the disease, taking into account the arrival of winter, the season in which respiratory viruses begin to rise, including one of the most serious, such as COVID-19. .

In the last week (14/2023) confirmed cases were registered in 9 of the 18 health regions and in the last 114 days, the incidence rate is one case per 100,000 inhabitants.

Other respiratory viruses

Like COVID-19, there is an increase in cases of other respiratory viruses at all ages, therefore it is important to prevent serious forms of these diseases through vaccination that started on Monday, April 10.

The Expanded Immunization Program (PAI), of the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, announced that the “Winter 2023 Campaign” this year will offer citizens the possibility of accessing quadrivalent vaccines against the different types of influenza that normally circulate with the entry of low temperatures.

Emphasis is placed on the vaccination of populations framed within risk groups, such as babies from 6 months of age onwards, older adults, health professionals, essential public service workers and people with underlying diseases.

The vaccination campaign will begin on Monday, April 10 and will run until Friday, July 14, and includes the following vaccines:

Bivalent against COVID-19

It is applied with an annual dose. The bivalent vaccine protects against the original variant (Wuhan) and against the omicron variant. Thanks to this, it offers a greater spectrum of protection.

Its application is intended for people aged 12 and over. The application interval is within the 4 months after the second dose, or 6 months after the booster dose.

The Bivalent vaccine against COVID-19 protects against severe forms of the infection and reduces the chances of hospitalization and death.

Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine

Intended for the entire population from 6 months of age onwards, mainly for people in risk groups, such as children from 6 to 35 months of age, health workers, pregnant women, postpartum women, people with underlying disease and older adults.

Vaccination prevents serious cases and their complications, and reduces the risk of hospitalization.

Pneumo 23 Vaccine

Intended for people over 60 years of age, with no history of vaccination or who have received a dose 5 years ago.

The vaccine protects against 23 serotypes of pneumococcus, such as pneumonia and meningitis bacteremia due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, and its potential complications.

All these vaccines can be applied simultaneously.

May winter find you protected!