When commemorating the October 5 the “The World day against meningitis” he Ministry of Health He stressed this Thursday that the vaccination is the best way to prevention of this disease caused by meningococcus, pneumococcus and Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria, which annually affect thousands of people around the world, resulting in a disease with serious consequences and a high mortality rate.
The Health organization remembers that, through Expanded Immunization Program (PAI), managed by the Directorate of Immunopreventables by Vaccines (DIV), contemplates within the basic immunization scheme the prevention of the meningitis through the administration of the Pentavalent and Hexavalent vaccines which represent the best protection against the disease.
He Ministry of Health introduced to the basic immunization schedule during the “Vaccination Week of the Americas (SVA) 2025“, the Hexavalent acellular vaccinewhich protects children against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and severe forms of disease due to Haemophilus influenzae type B and 3 other strains of poliovirus, being administered to 2, 4 and 6 months age of the little ones.
Likewise, in 2023, the vaccine against meningococcus was included, aimed at special groups.
It stands out that, in the current month of October 2025 included Pneumococcus 20 vaccinewhich expands the spectrum of protection from 13 to 20 strains of this agent, in order to provide greater protection to the population, surpassing the vaccine against pneumococcus (Pneumo-13), introduced in 2013, which was administered at 2 and 4 months, with a booster at 12 months.
Applied doses
During the period 2020-2024 he Ministry of Health Public administered a total of 3,057,171 doses of pentavalent and 3,072,565 doses of pneumococcus vaccine in the population under 1 year of age. In addition, in 2024 a day of vaccination against pneumococcus, in the context of SVA, impacting 186,196 diabetic patients and older adults.
This year, until September 30, 2025 A total of 222,854 doses of pentavalent have been administered, 261,854 doses against pneumococcus, 51,146 doses of hexavalent and 5,866 doses of vaccines against meningococcus and the day of vaccination against pneumococcus aimed at older adults.
He MSP urges the population to become aware of the meningitis which is a acute infectious disease serious, life-threatening, which is characterized by inflammation of the meninges, which are the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.
For the epidemiological week 39, Public health reports 4 cases of malaria and a cumulative total of 746 confirmed cases to date, remaining at Azua and San Juan as foci of the disease. The reporting of deaths from malaria remains at zero
Regarding dengue, three cases are confirmed, for a total of 218 confirmed cases so far this year.
The report of cholera cases continues at zero this year, while the active circulation of two respiratory viruses is confirmed (Influenza B Victoria and Respiratory Syncytial Virus).
Maternal and infant deaths
Epidemiological bulletin 39 indicates the notification of two maternal deaths, corresponding to women of Dominican nationality. The accumulated to date is 123. Last year to date, 135 deaths were confirmed for a 9 percent reduction in the indicator.
Of child deaths, 21 deaths and a cumulative total of 1,331 deaths. This amount reflects a decrease, since, for the same date in 2024, 1,700 deaths were reported.
