Health Minister

From the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI), they highlight the delicate situation that is presented by the confirmed case of measles in Paraguay and the cases of neighboring countries, for which it is essential to immunize the child population against this highly contagious and dangerous disease. , but preventable by vaccination.

Immunization is the world’s safest method of protecting children from deadly vaccine-preventable diseases. They are safe, effective and provide protection.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases that exist, it can be transmitted through coughing and sneezing. People can become infected by breathing air contaminated with the virus or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. It mainly affects children and unvaccinated people; it can become complicated and lead to pneumonia, brain infection, and death.

It should be remembered that Paraguay was declared free of measles in 1998. However, given the circulation of the virus in other parts of the world, countries in the region reported an increase in imported cases. Currently, our country presents a confirmed case of the disease.

One of the measures implemented by the Ministry of Public Health is the new vaccination scheme, and recommends that parents or guardians protect their children with two doses of the SPR vaccine, to avoid outbreaks and serious complications, such as pneumonia, which It can kill babies and young children.

Protect your children with vaccinations

The current vaccination scheme for the triple viral vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) is carried out as follows:

The boy or girl should receive their first dose of the MMR vaccine at 12 months of age and the second dose at 18 months. This modification applies to those born from August 2021.

Children 18 months or older with a history of vaccination, administer two doses with a minimum interval of 1 month between doses. Likewise, parents of children 18 months and older pending receiving the second dose should bring them to the vaccination center, in order to complete their schedule.

It is important to remember that, in the presence of fever and red spots, which may be accompanied by respiratory symptoms and conjunctivitis, it is necessary to go to a care center. Health personnel will report the symptoms and the case will be investigated.

In Paraguay, Article 6 of Law No. 4621/2015 “National Vaccines” establishes that all minors must be immunized, and that parents, representatives, guardians or those in charge of custody of a minor will be responsible for compliance. of this obligation. All the inhabitants of the Republic will be obliged to undergo immunization against diseases preventable by vaccination, subject to national programs.

In this regard, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, through the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI), reminds families of the importance of children maintaining their full vaccination schedules, in order to avoid complications and even death, as a result of diseases that are preventable through vaccines.

The health and protection of children is paramount, therefore, immunizing them is an action that should not be postponed.

The country’s regular scheme contemplates a series of vaccines necessary from an early age, which are available free of charge in vaccination centers for the entire national population.

Below is the list of regular schedule vaccines, according to age:

– Newborn: BCG vaccine: tuberculosis. HEPB vaccine: hepatitis B virus – pediatric.

– 2 months: rotavirus vaccine, IPV vaccine: inactivated polio. PENTA vaccine: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, meningitis. 13-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine: pneumonia, meningitis, otitis.

– Four months: rotavirus vaccine, IPV vaccine. PENTA vaccine: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, meningitis. 13-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine: pneumonia, meningitis, otitis.

– 6 months: bOPV vaccine: inactivated polio vaccine. PENTA vaccine: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B, meningitis. Seasonal influenza vaccine: severe symptoms and complications from influenza.

– 12 months: 13-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine: pneumonia, meningitis, otitis. MMR vaccine: measles, mumps, rubella. AA vaccine: yellow fever. Seasonal influenza vaccine: severe symptoms and complications from influenza.

– 15 months: Varicella vaccine: serious pictures and complications from chickenpox. Hepatitis A vaccine: serious pictures and complications due to hepatitis A. Seasonal influenza vaccine: serious pictures and complications due to influenza.

– 18 months: bOPV vaccine: Bivalent polio 1 and 3. DPT vaccine: Diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus. Seasonal influenza vaccine: severe symptoms and complications from influenza. MMR vaccine: measles, mumps, rubella.

– 4 years: bOPV vaccine: bivalent polio 1 and 3. DPT vaccine: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus.

– 5 years: second dose of chickenpox vaccine.

– Teenagers: HPV vaccine: Human Papilloma Virus (only women). Tdpa vaccine: acellular pertussis (women and men).

It is extremely important to control the vaccination booklet and keep it updated, with the corresponding doses. Vaccines are the safest method in the world to protect children from deadly diseases, they are safe, effective and provide protection.

Our country has one of the best and most complete vaccination schemes in the region. Vaccines are safe, protect and save lives! Protect your sons and daughters.

Vaccinations from the 18 health regions of the MSPyBS will be supplied.

This vaccine is applied to girls of this age group to prevent cervical cancer.

All girls between the ages of 9 and 14 must receive the HPV vaccine, which is given free of charge at the Ministry of Health vaccination centers nationwide.

In this context, a batch of this vaccine arrived in the country, which will be distributed on demand to the sanitary regions of the Ministry of Health, to reinforce the stock of vaccinations.

The HPV vaccine can prevent cases of cervical cancer, since it represents 90% of HPV-associated tumors.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of more than 100 types of viruses that affects both women and men. High-risk types can cause the development of cervical cancer and other types of cancer.

In Paraguay, cervical cancer represents the first cause of death in women. For this reason, it is extremely important to prevent the disease with two fundamental tools: timely vaccination and early detection. Both actions can significantly reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.

In 2012, Paraguay introduced the vaccine that prevents HPV. This is applied intramuscularly, and its scheme consists of two doses, with a minimum interval of 6 months between the first and second doses.

To date, there is no antiviral drug to treat infection with this virus, so the only way to prevent infection with high-risk viruses is vaccination.

The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare has an effective and safe vaccine, which provides 98-100% protection against cervical cancer and other types of cancers caused by HPV.

Does your daughter have her complete scheme against HPV?

The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare together with Punto Farma launch the immunization campaign “Vaccinating your children, we all win”, through which, Starting today, February 17, every Friday from 12:00 to 18:00, five branches of this pharmacy will apply regular immunization schedule vaccines to boys and girls. It is important to present the vaccination booklet and identity card of the minor.

The branches of Punto Farma, in the Central department, where the vaccination will be carried out, are:

– Saint Lawrence.

– Luke.

– Fernando de la Mora.

– Lambaré.

– Itauguá.

For this purpose, the vaccination brigades of the XI Sanitary Region – Central will be in the premises, on the day and time mentioned. This action is due to the confirmation of the measles case in the country, added to several other suspects.

The health portfolio, through the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI), insists on vaccinating children against measles, a highly contagious and dangerous disease, as well as the others established in the country’s regular vaccination schedule, one of the best and most complete in the region.

new scheme

As a strategy to increase the protection of boys and girls in less time, a change was made in the vaccination scheme, it is the triple viral vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella), which is applied, as usual, the first dose at 12 months of life, and in the new update the second dose is brought forward at 18 months.

The new vaccination scheme for the triple viral vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) is carried out as follows:

• The boy or girl should receive their first dose of the MMR vaccine at 12 months of age and the second dose at 18 months. This modification applies to those born in August 2021.

• Children 18 months or older with a history of vaccination, administer two doses with a minimum interval of 1 month between doses.

• Similarly, parents of children 18 months and older pending receiving the second dose should bring them to the vaccination center in order to complete their scheme.

Measles: symptoms and care

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, it can be transmitted through coughing and sneezing. People can get it by breathing air contaminated with the virus or if they touch a contaminated surface and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth, it mainly affects children and unvaccinated people, it can get complicated and cause pneumonia, infection of the brain and death.

In case of fever and red spots, which may be accompanied by respiratory symptoms and conjunctivitis, you should go to a health center. The symptoms that should also attract attention are: coryza (runny nose), cough and rash. Health personnel will report the symptoms and the case will be investigated.