MADRID, February 5 (EUROPE PRESS) –
On 31 January, the Community of Madrid closed its vaccination campaign against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which began on 16 October, during which 1.5 million people were immunized and 96% of newborns received the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, reducing number of hospitalizations for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). bronchiolitis by 70%.
Specifically, coverage of the influenza campaign was 69% among people aged 65 years and older, a total of 844,441 people; one million citizens, including 75% of Madrid’s population over 80 years of age, received reinforcements against Covid-19; and 85,155 healthy children aged 6 months to 5 years received preventive treatment, a first in the region.
In terms of immunization against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes bronchiolitis, 81% of the target population, 36,227 children under six months of age and newborns (96% of those covered since October), have received immunization from 1 October to date. .
Health Minister Fatima Matute reported these data during a visit to the capital’s Las Cortes Health Center, where she recalled that the peak of influenza was recorded in the last week of last year and the downward trend continues. Covid-19 continues to fall, down 62% from the previous week, and revenues are down 50%.
“The downward trend continues, both for acute respiratory infections in general, and for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. In all cases, the downward trend continues,” emphasized Elena Andradas, Director General of the Ministry of Health.
REDUCED INCOME IN INFANTS DUE TO HRV
In this regard, the Minister of Health emphasized that hospitalization of children for RSV has decreased by 70% compared to the 365 children admitted to intensive care units for this reason last year.
“By reducing the incidence of bronchiolitis, we are preventing these young children from eventually having complications throughout their lives. This is one of the most important aspects that respiratory syncytial virus exhibits when it causes infection in infants, children under six months of age. ages for which repeated bronchitis very often occurs and even episodes of asthma can remain for the rest of their lives,” emphasized Elena Andradas, Director General of the Public Health Authority.
In this regard, the consultant stressed the importance of continuing vaccination and congratulated herself on the fact that in nursing homes, “who are our most vulnerable patients,” vaccination compliance has reached almost 100%. “We’re going to continue to educate ourselves and continue to consider the benefits of vaccination against the risks, which are minimal and have virtually no side effects,” he said.
Vaccination of the second dose of Covid-19 is carried out for risk groups, for example, people over 60 years of age and the population from 12 to 59 years of age with pathologies, at regional public health centers and other authorized points.
In the case of RSV, it continues until March 31 in the Niño Jesus public hospital, as well as in public and private maternity hospitals (for newborns), resulting in a reduction of more than 50% of cases and a decrease in morbidity. 70% of hospitalizations occur in children under one year of age.
To address the problem of the spread of diseases typical of the time, the Community of Madrid activated the measures included in the Winter Plan, which include the employment of more than a thousand specialists in hospital centers and the provision of more than a thousand hospital beds. need for care through daily blood pressure monitoring.