Vaccines are the world’s safest method of protecting children from deadly diseases; This is what the World Health Organization (WHO) says. And the fact is that these biological drugs help prevent serious diseases, create public immunity and ensure that children are protected as they grow and develop their own immune systems.
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In the case of preterm babies, vaccination becomes more relevant because they have not completed their developmental process and have not reached full intrauterine immunological maturation, and therefore are at greater risk of contracting serious diseases, complications or requiring hospitalization. warns the Colombian Association of Neonatologists (ASCON), which will hold its VIII National Congress from August 16 to 18.
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In Colombia, in 2022, live births less than 37 weeks of gestation will account for 11.0% of all births registered that year, according to reports from the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE). which is 0.4 percentage points higher than recorded in 2021. Moreover, for every thousand live births, there are 104.4 newborns with low birth weight, that is, with a body weight of less than 2500 grams.
Because of these two conditions — underweight and prematurity — babies can suffer more and more severe infections that can be prevented by vaccination, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Hence the importance of timely promotion of vaccination in this group of newborns. and that it causes the least possible side effects.
In this sense, it is worth noting the relevance of combined acellular vaccines, such as the hexavalent one, to mitigate the side effects of vaccination and protect against six diseases with a single biological action, such as diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, Haemophilus influenzae type B. , hepatitis B and polio; In addition, they can represent economic savings for a country.
Cell-free vaccines are vaccines containing cell fractions of the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough.
The Colombian Red Cross explains that “by leaving only the important parts of these bacteria, side effects are reduced and the immune system is activated and the number of defenses increases. For this reason, cell-free vaccines are considered a less painful alternative that retains the benefits of traditional vaccines and protects the baby.
The truth is that vaccinating a significant portion of the population creates an indirect protective effect for those who cannot receive certain vaccines, such as very young children or people with weakened immune systems. This reduces the spread of disease and prevents outbreaks that can be devastating, especially in vulnerable communities.
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Another important reason is that some illnesses, such as measles or whooping cough, can be more severe in infants than in adults. Early vaccination helps prevent these serious complications and protects the health of the newborn in the long term. In addition, by vaccinating children from an early age, you establish a vaccination schedule that will protect them as they get older and at greater risk.
Benefits of the hexavalent acellular vaccine
Various experts agree that the use of combined cell-free vaccines represents important benefits both for the public health system and for the experience of vaccinating premature babies or newborns.
Doctor and researcher Martin Romero from the Center for Economic Research, Management and Health Fundación Salutia in Bogota noted that in the “Study on Cost Minimization and Budget Analysis” of the implementation hexavalent vaccine in the national EPI, it was found that the use of an all-liquid hexavalent combination vaccine would reduce any associated hidden costs. to the vaccination process, which affects the effectiveness of the Plan.
And he stressed that there would be a savings of $1.7 million per year in immunoprophylactic infectious diseases using a hexavalent acellular vaccine in preterm infants.
Similarly, Dr. Ofelina Vergara emphasizes that “By vaccinating preterm infants with this 6-in-1 biologic, the costs shown to be significantly reduced are related to the management of adverse, logistical and social events, which reduces total costs by 19%. “. the cost of vaccination. In fact, it states that for every premature baby vaccinated with the hexavalent primary regimen (3+0), about 220,000 Colombian pesos (US$67) will be saved.
Regarding the vaccination process, the Colombian Association of Neonatology (Ascon) emphasizes that the hexavalent vaccine, which provides protection against six pathologies, “represents the best option to guarantee a more rigorous adherence to the PAI regimen for infants with a history of prematurity in our country.” This vaccine reduces the pain of multiple punctures and the number of side effects such as bouts of crying, hypotension, acute symptoms of fever, convulsions, or sleep apnea.
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Mrs Vanessa Ortiz
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