Vaccines have saved 50 million lives in two decades worldwide

Vaccination plays a critical role in preventing respiratory illnesses caused by influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), SARS-Cov-2, whooping cough, and pneumococcus, pathogens that affect young children and the elderly. Now, at a meeting organized by Pfizer and the National Association of Health Informants (ANIS) as part of World Immunization Week, experts stress that immunization is a “wasted resource” that can help protect people of other age groups suffering from certain pathologies, and especially patients with chronic respiratory diseases and is key to preventing hospitalizations and associated complications.

The meeting was attended by Carmen Pingarron, Head of the Gynecological Service at the Quironsalud San José Hospital in Madrid; Maria Garces Sanchezpediatrician at the Nazareth Medical Center (Valencia) and member of the Vaccine Advisory Committee of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (CAV-AEP); Isabel Jimeno, Family physician, head of the vaccination group of SEMG (Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians) and member of the NeumoExpertos group; Angel GilProfessor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the Juan Carlos University of Madrid and member of the NeumoExpertos group; Jose ChavezMedical Director of Pfizer Spain; Maite HernandezDirector of Public Relations for Pfizer and Graziella AlmendralPresident of the National Association of Medical Informants (ANIS).

Graziella Almendral recalled in this context that WHO data indicates that the total estimated number of lives saved by vaccines is 50 million, if only the period from 2000 to 2019 is analyzed. The same organization’s figure saved for debate by Jose Chavez is 4-5 million lives saved each year, “although there is still room for improvement,” he added.

For her part, Carmen Pingarron pointed out that the period from late autumn to early spring sees a peak in hospitalizations due to RSV infection, 70% for bronchiolitis, 24% for complications and 5% for pneumonia. The virus is especially harmful to vulnerable people (newborns, infants, children under 12 years of age with medical conditions, people with weakened immune systems, people with COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – or congestive heart failure, etc.), “but it can also ultimately affect on healthy adults, especially if we are over 65 years of age, who may be more acutely affected by the consequences of infection.”

In addition, she noted that there are 33 million cases of infection in children under 5 years of age every year, and “as a gynecologist,” she emphasized the benefits of vaccination for pregnant women, “which protects not only mothers, but also the child.” children” who are already born with built-in antibodies, without which they would have difficulty responding to infections.” When the vaccination process begins in infants, which occurs at six weeks of age, “precious time of almost two months was lost when they could benefit from the protection provided by maternal vaccination.”

Both she and the rest of the meeting participants emphasized the very broad consensus in this regard, both among scientific societies and in various administrations.

Maria Garcés emphasized that RSV is a pathogen that has a very significant impact at the extreme stages of life, and that for doctors it has a “dramatic” element, since there is no specific treatment, which celebrates the arrival of a vaccine that “completes the picture.” protection.”

Recalling the impact of previous vaccines, he noted that since the launch of the pneumococcal vaccine, “170 million cases of infection have been avoided worldwide.”

Isabel Gimeno focused on the adult population served in primary care consultations, including both healthy individuals and patients with chronic illnesses and immunocompromised patients in her assessments.

He illustrated the severity of complications with data such as the fact that 7-8% of people hospitalized with pneumococcal pneumonia suffer episodes of cardiovascular nature: “The vaccine protects not only against the infectious disease, but also against possible complications that appear in other areas. or body systems.

Recognizing that it is possible that there were obstacles to widespread vaccination of the population, Angel Gil is inclined to start with people over 79 years of age in order to extend the campaigns until all the people who need it are protected. “In Galicia, the vaccination calendar has a separate column dedicated to this sector of the population, and I consider this a success,” he said.