Health is replacing the meningococcal C vaccine with the Acwy variant in 4-month-old infants.

Health Minister Catalina García presented some new features of the 2024 vaccination calendar in Granada. Catalina Garcia opened the third ANDAVAC Congress. These new features are replacements as of February 1st. meningococcal C vaccine for Acwy variant in 4-month-old infants. Vaccine human papilloma It will be given as a single dose to boys and girls aged 12 and 13 to 18, and the vaccine will also be effective up to 73 years of age. Pneumococcus.

According to the adviser who opened the Third Andalusian Vaccine Congress in Granada, Pneumococcal infection coverage is currently 68%. After a gradual increase in the age cohorts of this vaccination – in 2022, vaccination increased from 60 to 71 years; in 2023 from 60 to 72, and again this year it will increase by one more. Replacing the dose of meningococcal C vaccine with meningococcal ACWY vaccine is “a recommendation based on evolving epidemiology, the availability of safe and effective vaccines, and evidence of the impact of country strategies.” around us,” the consultant explained.

In Spain, in relation to serogroups W and Y, the number of cases and incidence have increased almost fourfold and threefold respectively compared to 2021, and by age group the highest rates are observed in those under one year of age. (0.61) and Y (0.30), with a mortality rate of W 24% and Y 11.1%. This is what led to a change in the dose of the vaccine – a measure that will begin to be applied to those born from October 1, 2023.
Also from February 1, there will be a transition to a single dose against human papillomavirus (HPV) for systematic vaccination of girls and boys aged 12 years, as well as for life-saving vaccination of girls aged 13 to 18 years and boys aged 12 years. 13 years old, not previously vaccinated.

The decision to select a single dose is also consistent with World Health Organization recommendations supported by studies in which protective immunogenicity and clinical efficacy were observed at comparable times to the recommended two or three doses in adolescent girls and boys following subsequent treatment. more than 10 years with HPV2 and HPV4 vaccines and three years with HPV9 vaccines. This recommendation has already been implemented in countries such as Australia and the UK, according to the consultant, who announced that herpes zoster vaccination will be included in age groups this year, especially those aged 65.

Except, The consultant described the vaccination days of the flu and Covid-19 campaign as successful.Of these, 91.1% of available flu doses have already been administered, allowing 1,780,202 people to be vaccinated. In the case of Covid, 79% of the available doses have already been administered, with 1,125,122 people vaccinated. In its second year of use, the influenza vaccine for children aged 6 to 59 months has already reached 44.8% of the target population (128,297 children).

Since September 25, 2023, 45,955 children have received the vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of bronchiolitis. Currently, more than 90% of minors who are eligible for this immunization have received it.
According to him, thanks to this campaign, the number of hospitalizations in Andalusia was reduced by 78% and the number of hospitalizations in intensive care units by 66%.

As for the vaccine against papillomavirus, 92.8% of girls from 12 to 18 years old (cohort from 2005 to 2011) received it, and among boys born in 2011 in January it already reached 80.1%, a similar figure for girls of the same of the year. age (83.3%).