Nearly 95% of children under 10 years old have already been vaccinated against measles.
The news was offered this Thursday, by Roberto Cervantes, general manager of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), who stressed that this percentage of coverage is very satisfactory, since it is close to the proposed goal when there are still 23 days left until this extraordinary vaccination ends.
The official thanked the response of the population to this call made by the Ministry of Health and the CCSS and all the personnel of the institution involved in the logistics of vaccination that started on December 12th, 2018 and will end on March 31st.
The authorities highlight the mobilization of technical assistants of primary care (Ataps), who had to travel by boat, horse, on foot, ATVs, motorcycles, among other means of transport, to reach the largest number of children.
Leandra Abarca, coordinator of the Immunization Program of the CCSS, said that this percentage reached so far, is close to that established by the World Health Organization (WHO), as the optimal numbers to protect a population against a disease preventable by vaccination. That international organization indicates an optimum of 95% coverage in the different immunization schemes.
The last extraordinary vaccination against measles was made in 2011. According to the head of the CCSS, the importance of this vaccination was already reflected with the visit of three French tourists infected with measles and fortunately, so far, there have been no secondary cases.
Dr. Abarca said that it is possible the percentage of vaccination against measles is higher, because these numbers are not taking into account the vaccination that is taking place at the private level or population that has contraindications of this vaccine as children allergic to eggs, or those with heart disease and kidney disease.