The Ministry of Health is working to include whooping cough vaccination for adolescents aged 11-12 years in the new vaccination schedule for 2025, following an increase in cases and recommendations from the Vaccination Advisory Council. The Council recommended replacing the 14-year-old dose of diphtheria-tetanus vaccine with the 11-12-year-old dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine.The new vaccination schedule also plans to include rotavirus vaccination for children born from January onwards. In addition, during 2025, all unvaccinated boys who have passed the sixth grade and up to the age of 18 will be vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV).
In Catalonia, vaccination recommendations They are reviewed periodically to include new ones and adapt them to the needs of the population.These recommendations have also been adapted based on the agreements adopted in the Public Health Committee of the Regional Council of the National Health System of the Ministry, as well as the recommendations of the Vaccination Advisory Council.
Whooping cough vaccination from 11-12 years of age
The pertussis vaccination procedure will come into effect from the publication of the new calendar and during the 2024-25 academic year, in April and May. This will be possible after Salut accepts the Council’s recommendation and begins implementation procedures.Such as processing calendar inclusion, budget booking, or initiating hiring processes.
Between 2015 and 2022, only 65 cases were diagnosed across the region. But since then, A significant increase of 567 cases was recorded in 2023 and 11,614 cases in the first four months of 2024.This increase in cases was particularly due to an increase in infections in the age group from 5 to 14 years, especially between 10 and 14 years.
Whooping cough is an infectious disease that can affect all ages, and is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. The most characteristic symptoms vary by age, with the most common being aChildren under 3 months of age usually have a cold or cough that lasts for a few days. A period with little or no fever. In older people, Long-lasting dry cough attacks occur, which are worse at night.which can last several weeks.
In children, whooping cough can be serious and complicated (apneic crisis, cyanosis, sepsis, pneumonia and encephalopathy), leave sequelae or even be fatal.
In CataloniaPertussis is included in the vaccination schedule at 2 and 4 months as a primary vaccination with the hexavalent vaccine, at 11 months as a refresher with the hexavalent vaccine, and a second refresher dose at 6 years. In addition, vaccination is recommended for pregnant women in order to protect children until vaccination begins.
Vaccination is the main preventive measure, but it does not provide lifelong protection. That’s why it’s important to get all the recommended doses.
Vaccinating children against rotavirus
Rotavirus (RV) infection. It is one of the most common causes of acute gastroenteritis. Common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea and/or vomiting, and sometimes fever. The vast majority of cases of hepatitis C are reported in children under 5 years of age and complications that can result include severe dehydration, with a loss of 10-15% of body water, changes in hydrolysis and acid-base balance, and neurological complications, most common in the first two years of life.
Given the impact of infection and potential complications, In Catalonia, rotavirus vaccination is scheduled to be included in all children born from January 2025.The vaccine was approved statewide in January of this year, and is planned to be available statewide by the end of 2025.
More protection against HPV
the vaccine Against human papillomavirus (HPV) It is currently given in Catalonia to all girls and all boys aged 11 and 12 (in the sixth year of primary school), with a vaccination schedule consisting of two doses at this age. Starting from the 2022-2023 school year, the vaccination has also been integrated for boys (born in 2011), because previously this vaccination was only given to girls.
From next year next academic year 2024-25 A single dose of HPV vaccine is scheduled for boys and girls in the sixth grade.Since then, at the last meeting of the Public Health Committee in July 2024, it was agreed to change the guideline from two doses to one dose in the groups in which vaccination is recommended (for girls and boys up to 25 years of age).
In addition, dStarting in 2025, vaccination will begin for all boys who have passed the sixth grade and up to the age of 18. (Including) those who have not yet been vaccinated. It should be remembered that the vaccination of boys began with those born in 2011, and therefore it will now be offered to all boys born between 2007 and 2011. They will be informed in due course about the entire vaccination process.
Additionally, due to the statewide approval of the new one-dose HPV vaccine recommendation for girls and boys through age 25, the new guideline is effective immediately for those currently indicated for vaccination for girls and boys ages 19 to 25.
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