Comunidad Valenciana and Murcia, September 5, 2018. The specialists of the hospitals Quirónsalud recommend updating the child's immunization record to avoid infectious diseases during the course, in addition to visiting the pediatrician to diagnose early health problems, help correct bad eating habits and sleep or detect visual defects during the first days of the course that may interfere with their school performance and avoid absenteeism.

Although specialists indicate that it is not mandatory to be properly vaccinated to start the course, it is highly recommended to confirm that we are up to date with the regulated immunization schedule. "As has been seen recently with the outbreak of measles in Europe," says doctor María Mínguez, head of the pediatric service of Quirónsalud Torrevieja, "the resurgence of potentially serious diseases is possible, due to undervaccination in some regions. As always, the best treatment is prevention. In addition, we must remember that by vaccinating ourselves not only protect ourselves, but also and indirectly, vulnerable people who by age (babies), pregnancy, or suffering from diseases that contraindicate vaccination, are exposed to preventable contagious diseases "

Vaccines are among the most effective means to prevent diseases, disabilities and deaths. They represent a fundamental milestone in the prevention of infectious and contagious diseases, with an exceptional impact on global health, which is currently their unquestionable value. As Dr. Carmen Otero, head of the infectious diseases section of the Integral Pediatrics Unit of the Hospital Quirónsalud Valencia, states, "vaccines are biological products that contain one or several antigens that are administered with the objective of producing a specific immune stimulus against to germs causing infectious diseases and thus prevent, sequelae and mortality. "This stimulus," he adds, "aims to simulate natural infection and thus generate a specific immune response in the vaccinated child. In this way, when the child comes back to face a new exposure to that microorganism, the risk of getting sick will be as low as possible. "

Dr. Otero warns that, "when a significant percentage of a population is vaccinated, this protective effect also benefits unvaccinated people, generating what is called" group, collective or herd immunity "for which vaccination coverage is needed 95% But now alarms have jumped, doctors and experts agree: the guard has been lowered and the vaccination rate in many European countries is below 95%, the recommended percentage. "

In addition to systemic vaccines from the official calendar, specialists recommend evaluating the optional vaccines. "In this group highlights the meningococcal B vaccine, available in Spain for a few years and highly recommended for children both young and old. Although fortunately the incidence of meningococcal disease is our country is low, it is a very serious disease, so the Spanish Association of Pediatrics recommends vaccinating all children after 2 months of life, "highlights Dr. Marta Granados , pediatrician of the Hospital Quirónsalud Murcia.

Dr. Granados, also advises to update the child's health book with his pediatrician and return as soon as possible to the routines and schedules that we will take during the academic year in order not to interfere with his performance and avoid school absenteeism.


Labels: child vaccination, vaccinations, back to school, prevention, Quirónsalud Torrevieja, pediatrics