A few days ago the Community of Madrid announced that it eliminates pneumococcal vaccination from the public health portfolio, contemplated so far within the systematic child calendar. The suspension of this medical benefit has raised its voice against the scientific societies of Madrid.
This has been indicated in a report where they summarize what the disease means and what its incidence is currently in Madrid, predicting a less positive future with the suppression of the pneumococcal vaccine from the calendar:
This measure (together with others) is located within the draft Law on Urgent Budget Modification Measures to comply with the provisions of the State for the autonomous communities, but the report states that not only will it not mean savings but it will negatively affect the state Children's health:
Pediatric scientific societies in Madrid believe that this measure poses a serious risk to children's health and will have a minimal impact as a saving measure.
The document justifies these statements by the demonstrated effectiveness and safety of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, noting that the World Health Organization itself recommends its inclusion in national vaccination programs.
The report continues to provide data in favor of the vaccine, such as the favorable effect on the epidemiology of the disease after the introduction of this vaccine in Madrid, which led the Galician community to also include this immunization in its calendar. .
According to the report, the number of cases of pneumococcal meningitis and mortality from this infectious agent in the Community of Madrid is among the lowest in Europe, which is explained by the use of the vaccine.
At the moment it is unknown when this restriction will begin to be applied and in what way. This cut leaves Galicia as the only community where the vaccine is maintained in the range of universal administration (we do not know how long, as the situation is ...).
What is becoming increasingly clear is that the Government of Spain's claim to develop a single vaccination calendar, something that the Pediatric Associations do claim, will not include this vaccine.
The report of the scientific societies of Madrid against the suppression of the pneumococcal vaccine he concludes by pointing out that, in the current crisis and cuts scenario, an aspect as important as that of child health should be the last on the list, which has not been fulfilled by incorporating this measure that poses a significant risk to the health of the children. Will these fundamentals be heard or are there too many demands on the waiting list?
