A few weeks ago, the Under Secretary of Public Health asked the Advisory Committee on Vaccines and Immunizations (Cavei) assess the feasibility of introducing the Covid-19 vaccine into the National Immunization Program (PNI). And now, after several days of discussion, the group of experts decided that it was time to add a dose to the national strategy.

What would this change translate into? Jaime RodriguezCavei president and head of Pediatric Infectology at the German Clinic, explains “Covid-19 vaccines are no longer vaccines approved only for emergency use and now have national approval from the Institute of Public Health (ISP) and Being a program means that they will be universal and free of charge and will also have a concept of the mandatory nature of the rest of the vaccines in the vaccination plan. “

In other words, the Vaccination would be integrated as a permanent public health measure in Chile, similar to other vaccines such as influenza or measles.

As for who the strategy would be directed at, “the candidates would be the same target groups as at present“. At the moment, The vaccine is available for people over 60 years, immunocompromised patients, health professionals, people with chronic diseases and pregnant women, as long as they have been one year since their last dose.

Therefore, the formal proposal concludes that “a vaccine against Covid-19 must be included in the exemption order No. 50/2021, which provides compulsory vaccination for the groups defined by the Ministry of Health, to prevent morbidity and mortality, especially in the groups most at risk, and to preserve the integrity and capacity of the health system.

The group of experts also recommends that it be part of the winter campaign: “Coronavirus and influenza vaccines should be given simultaneously in the corresponding population groups to optimize vaccine availability and administration logistics.”

Now, it is the Ministry of Health that must decide whether they should accept the recommendation of the group of experts. and consulted by Third, From the inside of the wallet they warn him The proposal is being studied in detail and a decision is expected to be made in the coming weeks.