Cuba to include pneumococcal vaccine in its immunization program

HAVANA, Cuba, Aug 30 (ACN) Cuba will join the list of 35 countries in the American region that have pneumococcal vaccines in their immunization schedules, starting next September 9, with the administration of Pneumosil 10 valente to two-month-old infants throughout the national territory.

In a press conference, Lena Lopez Ambron, director of the National Immunization Program, said that this is the most effective measure to prevent invasive pneumococcal disease caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria (known as pneumococcus), which can cause serious conditions such as acute meningitis, pneumonia or sepsis (blood infection).

According to the specialist, a first dose of the Pneumosil vaccine will be applied to children born in July 2024, a second one at four months of age and a booster at 11 months of age, to protect them against 10 pneumococcal serotypes, with the support of the Global Vaccine Alliance and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

Within the strategies of the Ministry of Public Health against this transmissible disease, an update campaign will be developed, where 27,500 live births will be vaccinated between January 1, 2024 and June 30 of the current year, the source indicated.

She pointed out that there are no contradictions in its application with other vaccines of the national immunization scheme, such as the pentavalent or oral polio vaccine.

Lopez Ambron described possible adverse effects such as muscular discomfort, redness or inflammation at the injection site, low-grade fever or fever, and there is a very low risk of having allergic reactions.

In the first week of September, PAHO experts will train the heads of immunization and the Mother and Child Program throughout the country on the characteristics and methods of application of the Pneumosil 10-valent vaccine, she added.

The Caribbean island's Immunization Program protects against 13 diseases with the administration of 16 immunologicals, and with the incorporation of the Pneumosil vaccine it will reach 17, 12 of them of national production.

Scientists estimate that invasive pneumococcal disease can cause death in 8 % of children with meningitis and 5% of pneumonias, in addition to causing a milder form of otitis or sinusitis.