Health will vaccinate against meningococcus B to all babies born in the Region of Murcia since last January 1. The first dose, which is administered at 2 months of age, will begin to inoculate in March. The vaccination regimen will be completed with another two punctures, at 4 and 12 months. In total, Salud expects to protect 13,500 children this year.
Last year, the Interterritorial Council approved financing by the public system of Bexsero, the vaccine against invasive meningococcal disease (EMI) by serogroup B. The decision was made in view of “the high severity and sequelae” caused by this pathology, but “the equity of the measure in the population” was also taken into account, since some communities incorporated Bexsero into the vaccination schedule some time ago. Among them, Andalusia, Catalonia or Castilla y León.
The agreement reached in the Interterritorial Council gave the autonomous regions a margin until 2024 to begin administering this vaccine to their child population, and the Region of Murcia has chosen not to wait any longer. The first doses will begin to be inoculated in March for babies born last January. “It is possible that on March 1 we will not have the vials, but if we start one or two weeks later it is not a problem,” explains Jaime Pérez, deputy director general of Public Health.
The Ministry plans to protect about 13,500 children against meningococcus B this year. The public system will pay 60.32 euros for each dose, compared to the 106.15 euros that until now parents who wanted to vaccinate their children had to pay at the pharmacy.
The incorporation of Bexsero to the calendar of the National Health System has been the subject of intense debate among experts in recent years. The Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) recommended it to parents, but many Public Health officials did not see it so clearly, given the lack of solid scientific evidence in Spain on its efficacy. Now, however, various studies have been published that have tipped the balance in the Interterritorial Council.
The decision to finance Bexsero coincides with the publication of new studies on its effectiveness
‘The New England Journal of Medicine’, one of the leading scientific journals, publishes in its latest issue a study carried out in Spain with data from more than 1,500 children between two months and five years of age. According to this research, the complete vaccination regimen achieves a protection level of 71% against invasive meningococcal disease by serogroup B. The Region of Murcia has contributed data to the study, explains Jaime Pérez, who in addition to being deputy general director of Public Health is president of the Spanish Vaccinology Association.
All the news of the vaccination calendar in the Region of Murcia
Human papillomavirus in children
At the end of December, Salud began to protect 11-year-old boys against the human papillomavirus (HPV), as it already did with girls. According to still provisional data, with the first dose a coverage of 74% has been reached. “It is a little lower than in girls, where it reaches 80%, but we are convinced that it will rise,” says Jaime Pérez. The second dose will be administered between May and June, explains the deputy director of Public Health.
HPV is behind most cases of cervical cancer. Hence, Salud began vaccinating girls years ago. Children are now incorporated for various reasons. In the first place, because in this way protection against cervical cancer is reinforced, by preventing men from transmitting the virus. In addition, HPV can also cause complications in men, from genital warts to cancer.
Pediatric flu
Another of the great innovations in the calendar is the pediatric flu vaccine, aimed at children between 6 and 59 months of age. The Region of Murcia, Galicia and Andalusia were the first communities to incorporate this vaccine, and Murcia has also been a pioneer in its intranasal administration to children aged 2, 3 and 4 years.
Although the campaign has been developed mainly in health centers, the inoculation of this vaccine has been piloted in 25 educational centers, with “good results.” Coverage in schools has been 60%, compared to 37% achieved in Primary Care centers. The Ministry has yet to decide whether to extend this initiative to all schools in the Region next year.
Herpes zoster
Salud began in March 2022 to protect immunocompromised adults against herpes zoster, and throughout 2023 the entire population born in 1958, who turns 65, is being vaccinated. “We are sending them letters and SMS messages as they reach that age,” explains Jaime Pérez.
20-valent conjugate pneumococcal
At the end of 2022, Salud also released a new vaccine (20-valent conjugate pneumococcal) against pneumococcus, aimed at the population between 65 and 69 years of age who have not previously been protected against pneumococcus, or who received it more than five years ago. years a first dose with the previous vaccine. The new pneumococcal conjugate improves the vaccine used in previous seasons, since it generates a “more complete” immune response.
Health will vaccinate against meningococcus B to all babies born in the Region of Murcia since last January 1. The first dose, which is administered at 2 months of age, will begin to inoculate in March. The vaccination regimen will be completed with another two punctures, at 4 and 12 months. In total, Salud expects to protect 13,500 children this year.
Last year, the Interterritorial Council approved financing by the public system of Bexsero, the vaccine against invasive meningococcal disease (EMI) by serogroup B. The decision was made in view of “the high severity and sequelae” caused by this pathology, but “the equity of the measure in the population” was also taken into account, since some communities incorporated Bexsero into the vaccination schedule some time ago. Among them, Andalusia, Catalonia or Castilla y León.
The agreement reached in the Interterritorial Council gave the autonomous regions a margin until 2024 to begin administering this vaccine to their child population, and the Region of Murcia has chosen not to wait any longer. The first doses will begin to be inoculated in March for babies born last January. “It is possible that on March 1 we will not have the vials, but if we start one or two weeks later it is not a problem,” explains Jaime Pérez, deputy director general of Public Health.
The Ministry plans to protect about 13,500 children against meningococcus B this year. The public system will pay 60.32 euros for each dose, compared to the 106.15 euros that until now parents who wanted to vaccinate their children had to pay at the pharmacy.
The incorporation of Bexsero to the calendar of the National Health System has been the subject of intense debate among experts in recent years. The Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) recommended it to parents, but many Public Health officials did not see it so clearly, given the lack of solid scientific evidence in Spain on its efficacy. Now, however, various studies have been published that have tipped the balance in the Interterritorial Council.
The decision to finance Bexsero coincides with the publication of new studies on its effectiveness
‘The New England Journal of Medicine’, one of the leading scientific journals, publishes in its latest issue a study carried out in Spain with data from more than 1,500 children between two months and five years of age. According to this research, the complete vaccination regimen achieves a protection level of 71% against invasive meningococcal disease by serogroup B. The Region of Murcia has contributed data to the study, explains Jaime Pérez, who in addition to being deputy general director of Public Health is president of the Spanish Vaccinology Association.
All the news of the vaccination calendar in the Region of Murcia
Human papillomavirus in children
At the end of December, Salud began to protect 11-year-old boys against the human papillomavirus (HPV), as it already did with girls. According to still provisional data, with the first dose a coverage of 74% has been reached. “It is a little lower than in girls, where it reaches 80%, but we are convinced that it will rise,” says Jaime Pérez. The second dose will be administered between May and June, explains the deputy director of Public Health.
HPV is behind most cases of cervical cancer. Hence, Salud began vaccinating girls years ago. Children are now incorporated for various reasons. In the first place, because in this way protection against cervical cancer is reinforced, by preventing men from transmitting the virus. In addition, HPV can also cause complications in men, from genital warts to cancer.
Pediatric flu
Another of the great innovations in the calendar is the pediatric flu vaccine, aimed at children between 6 and 59 months of age. The Region of Murcia, Galicia and Andalusia were the first communities to incorporate this vaccine, and Murcia has also been a pioneer in its intranasal administration to children aged 2, 3 and 4 years.
Although the campaign has been developed mainly in health centers, the inoculation of this vaccine has been piloted in 25 educational centers, with “good results.” Coverage in schools has been 60%, compared to 37% achieved in Primary Care centers. The Ministry has yet to decide whether to extend this initiative to all schools in the Region next year.
Herpes zoster
Salud began in March 2022 to protect immunocompromised adults against herpes zoster, and throughout 2023 the entire population born in 1958, who turns 65, is being vaccinated. “We are sending them letters and SMS messages as they reach that age,” explains Jaime Pérez.
20-valent conjugate pneumococcal
At the end of 2022, Salud also released a new vaccine (20-valent conjugate pneumococcal) against pneumococcus, aimed at the population between 65 and 69 years of age who have not previously been protected against pneumococcus, or who received it more than five years ago. years a first dose with the previous vaccine. The new pneumococcal conjugate improves the vaccine used in previous seasons, since it generates a “more complete” immune response.
