News of the Andalusian vaccination calendar for 2024
The New Year was marked by important events in Vaccination schedule in Andalusiawhich by 2024 will include everything from new vaccines to changes in the number of doses, based on World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and evolving epidemiology.
One of the big changes was the decision to change the dose of the vaccine against meningococcus Crecommended at four months of age for vaccine against meningococcus ACWY. Vaccination with this new vaccine will begin on February 1 this year and will be used from born on or after October 1, 2023, although it will also be given to infants born before this date and who have not received it yet neither the meningococcus C vaccine nor the meningococcus ACWY vaccine.
The decision to modify this vaccine, according to the Ministry of Health, is due to the fact that The number of cases and incidence of serogroups W and Y increased almost fourfold and threefold.respectively, compared to 2021. By age group, the highest rates are in children under 1 year of age, with mortality rates W 24% and Y 11.1%. For these reasons, it was decided to change the dose of the vaccine, thereby completing the protection against meningitis at the most vulnerable age, as part of the #ZeroMeningitis strategy launched in Andalusia in 2020.
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Let’s continue the topic of meningococcus.Another change this year is that Nimenrix vaccine will be replaced® vaccine preparation MenQuadfi® for systematic vaccination against meningococcus ACWY in 12 months already 12 yearsand also for life-saving vaccination of adolescents from 13 to 18 years old who have not yet received the meningococcal ACWY vaccine (Nimenrix®, MenQuadfi® or Menveo®) from age 10 years. This change will begin from March 1, 2024
Changing the number of HPV doses
Another big new addition to the 2024 vaccination schedule, which also begins on February 1, is a change in the number of flu vaccine doses. Human papillomavirus (HPV). Starting today, this vaccine is available to the entire community. will be administered in one dose instead of twosystematically to all 12-year-old boys and girls, that is, born in 2012.
Likewise, dose as a life-saving vaccine in girls from 13 to 18 years old (born between 2005 and 2011) and in 13 year old boys (born in 2011), not previously vaccinated.
The decision to choose a single dose is determined by WHO recommendations and current scientific evidencewhich several published studies indicate that after more than ten years of follow-up with a single dose regimen similar protective immune response and clinical efficacy are observed. according to the recommendation of 2 or 3 doses for both boys and girls, as stated in the Instructions for the 2024 vaccination calendar of Andalusia, published by the Ministry of Health, which also highlights that this measure has already been implemented in other developed countries. such as Australia and the UK.
The same document emphasizes that systematic HPV vaccination at age 12 years aims to “achieve maximum immunogenicity and greatest potential benefit when it is usually given before first sexual intercourse and also after “increase the highest possible vaccination coverage.”
Pneumococcus
Among the main changes in the vaccination schedule for this new year is also the expansion of the age range for receiving vaccinations against 20-valent conjugate pneumococcus. From now on, the vaccine will be administered to people from from 60 to 73 years oldthat is, those born between 1951 and 1964 who have not yet received either the 13-valent or the 20-valent.
Malaga health centers will offer vaccinations without appointments starting this Monday.
New vaccine
Big innovations also include the introduction of vaccination against Herpes zoster in the adult cohort 65 years old(born 1959), with a schedule of two doses separated by at least two months. Although the Ministry of Health has confirmed that this measure will begin to be implemented in 2024, the start date is still unknown.
In addition, the ministry recalled that vaccines recommended and that the calendar is subject to continuous updates to adapt both to epidemiological changes in vaccine-preventable diseases and to scientific and technological advances in the field of vaccines. The calendar is currently recommended by the Junta of Andalusia. includes vaccines against 15 diseases.