Through the Expanded Immunization Program (PAI), the Ministry of Health (Minsa), with the support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), launched the Vaccination Week of the Americas 2024 (SVA).
From April 20 to 27, the 22nd Vaccination Week of the Americas (VAW) and the 13th World Immunization Week are celebrated with the call to Action, “Act now to protect your future. #Get vaccinated.”
The Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre explained that Panama maintains a good practice in terms of immunization and that over the years the Ministry of Health in coordination with the PAI has managed to ensure that the country does not have some diseases, including Measles.
“However, by not having adequate coverage, those children who have not been vaccinated can get sick from measles. We must achieve more than 80% immunization of children from 1 to 4 years old,” said Minister Sucre.
The Health Minister announced that in the coming weeks the doses of influenza vaccines will arrive in the country and thus continue to reinforce the vaccination process throughout the country.
Itzel de Hewitt, EPI coordinator, indicated that this motto tries to highlight that people should not allow infections or vaccine-preventable diseases to get in their way.
He detailed that the vaccines will be available in all Minsa and CSS health facilities.
He recalled that the vaccination schedule began with 4 vaccines; Currently it has more than 25 vaccines, 5 immunoglobulins and 3 vaccines for outbreak management; This is reflected in the greater protection of the Panamanian population.
For this year, the PAI will carry out various activities during the opening of the SVA in the provincial capitals that have completed the monitoring campaign.
Vaccines stimulate the body’s immune system to protect people against diseases. They prevent illnesses, disabilities and deaths.
According to PAHO, SVA has been a key driver of immunization in the Americas, leading to more than 1 billion people being vaccinated against a range of diseases since 2002.
The Launch of the SVA in Panama was led by the Minister of Health, Luis Francisco Sucre, representatives of the PAHO, national and regional directors of the Minsa and special guests.
SVA at the regional level
Vaccination Week in the Americas (VAW) is a regional initiative that aims to promote equity and access to vaccination in all countries in the Region of the Americas.
PAI delivers vehicles to the regions
The Ministry of Health, through the Expanded Immunization Program, formally delivered 13 refrigerated vehicles and 1 21-foot truck (support from the IDB); Likewise 3 pickups to the different health regions of the EPI (support from the Government of Canada and PAHO).
