Nurses ask for increased vaccination against herpes zoster

lack of official data and low vaccination coverage before shingles regions where it is counted are the two main challenges facing the NHS in terms of what the jab covers. This was revealed at a webinar “Update on herpes zoster vaccination: a nursing perspective”, organized by the Institute of Higher Medical Training (Isfos) of the General Council of Nursing (CGE) in collaboration with GSK, and attended by experts in the field. analyzed and shared the need to bet on this vaccine and promote strategies to make the public aware of it.

“We are talking about a relatively recent vaccine on our calendar that needs wider roots in society and among the target population. We all know someone who has suffered from it, and for many people it causes such enormous pain that it can even be life-defining. .Personal, work and social. We know that vaccines also work as nurses. We must convey this to the population”This was stated by Isfos director Pilar Fernandez, according to a statement from the collegial body.

As discussed throughout the day, the biggest drawbacks this treatment has faced are post-pandemic vaccine fatigue and the number of anti-vaccination hoaxes existing on social networks. “We must promote correct information through networks and media, and provide scientific evidence to support correct vaccination. Likewise, setting an example and getting vaccinated as healthcare workers is a good way to raise awareness among the rest of society. “, explained Miguel Angel Acosta, specialist in family medicine at the Continuing Education Unit of the Primary Health Care Directorate of the Community of Madrid.

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“We must be a reliable source of information for the public,” Garcia-Flores emphasized.

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In the same spirit, says Raquel García-Flores, coordinator of the nursing and vaccination department at the Tres Cantos Medical Center II-Sector Embarcaciones (Madrid), who chose provide training like this one from Isfos to “be able to clearly convey truthful information to the user and clarify their doubts.” “We need to be a trusted resource for the public and also train ourselves on how to communicate effectively with the public. There is no point in accumulating a lot of knowledge if we then do not know how to transfer it to the population. It is not easy and requires a lot of time investment, but every time we give a person the opportunity to make a choice in favor of vaccination by providing him with the right information and resolving his doubts, it is a big victory,” the nurse emphasized.

High effectiveness of the vaccine compared to its limited use

Vaccine available from 2022 the number of people who develop shingles decreases by about 90 percent and those who develop it are reduced by the same percentage in the presence of complications, which can range from typical pain blisters to chronic pain or even some potentially serious ones such as encephalitis, central nervous system inflammation or blindness, as reported by the doctor during his intervention.

Participants emphasized that “there is no data at the national level or for many Autonomous Communities”, but for those where there is information, such as Castile and León, Madrid, Andalusia, Murcia and the Valencian Community, it is being revealed. that the use of this vaccine is relatively low, between 45 and 55 percent for the first dose and about 10 percent for the second. “These numbers show that when vaccinating adults, especially when targeting healthy people, strategies are needed that are different from the on-demand strategies that work in the pediatric population,” stressed Alejandro Cremades, a nurse at the Children’s Vaccination Center. Public Health of Elda (Alicante).

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“We need to create places where patients can learn about vaccines,” Garcia-Flores stressed.

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And it was these strategies that were talked about most in educationto which more than a thousand nurses have signed up. “We need to create places where patients can learn about vaccines, where they can ask their questions, where they can easily get a dose. We have to educate through consultation, and we can educate the community through community projects and educational sessions.” Garcia-Flores emphasized.

Vaccine funded for part of population

For its part, Cremades listed ways to promote vaccination and recommended implementation of information and recruitment strategiesespecially for those who have a recommended and funded vaccine, in addition to “opportunistic vaccination – that which is given at any contact with the health care system of those people for whom they are recommended.”

“There are activities in the media that reach many people, activities in patient associations, pensioners’ associations or in cooperation with city councils. They have also proven to be effective, especially when combined with the said outreach activities, recruitment through messages or calls, phone calls,” Nurse Eldy explained.

Cremades also stated that currently “In Spain, vaccines are funded for people 18 years of age and older with certain pathologies. that cause severe immunosuppression,” as in the case of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, solid organ transplantation, treatment with anti-JAK drugs, HIV infection, malignant hematopathies, tumors undergoing chemotherapy, a history of several previous episodes of herpes zoster, and other treatments. In addition, in some regions it is offered to people over 65 years of age.

Apart from these cases, Anyone aged 50 years or older who is not included in these groups can use the service. protection provided by these vaccines, although without funding. You will only need to request a prescription from your family doctor.