スペインでのインフルエンザ感染死亡危険者の65才以上の老人の予防注射率は、70%から57'7%に減少
España recela de la vacuna de la gripe A
La OMS y la UE recomiendan que se inmunice al 75% de los mayores de 65 años
Solo la solicita el 57% de la población con riesgo de sufrir complicaciones
Elena G. Sevillano Madrid 19 ENE 2014 - 22:45 CET
Spain wary of swine flu vaccine
The WHO and the EU recommended that immunize 75% of over 65s
Only the requested 57% of the population at risk of complications
Elena G. Sevillano Madrid 19 ENE 2014 - 22:45 CET
It may seem paradoxical, but the swine flu pandemic that said the World Health Organization (WHO ) in 2009 did a disservice to the struggle for decades maintain health authorities against the reluctance of the population to be vaccinated against seasonal flu . Coverage rates in over 65 years , considered one of the risk groups are advised to be immunized , Spain have fallen from about 70 % to 57.7% which includes the European Centre for Disease Prevention and control (ECDC , its acronym in English ) in its latest report , published a few days ago . Neither Spain nor any other European country except the Netherlands, have managed to reach the target of 75 % vaccination coverage recommended by both the WHO and the Council of the European Union.
" We're not taking more cases of flu, or to be more aggressive or different from others, what happens is that we have fewer vaccinated population ," explains Thomas Pumarola , virologist and member of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology ( SEIMC ) . " The 2009 pandemic did enough damage . We expected a highly virulent avian virus and a less aggressive swine flu , prompting some skepticism appeared "he stresses.
The expert stressed the importance of getting vaccinated for the seasonal flu every year . Health recommends immunization for certain population groups, either because they are people at high risk of developing complications from the flu , either because they are in contact with them and you can pass it . It is over 65 years , chronic cardiovascular or pulmonary patients , diabetics , pregnant women and workers in health centers. The flu affects each year between 5% and 15% of the Spanish population.
Doubts about the epidemic
■ What virus is circulating ? This season influenza infections are mainly produced by the virus of influenza A ( H1N1) . The viruses that are circulating in the world are two A, subtype A ( H1N1) and AH3 , and influenza virus B. The A ( H1N1 ) emerged as a new virus to humans in 2009 and moved the operations of other seasonal , triggering a global pandemic. When finished , this virus has become seasonal and flows with other subtypes.
■ Is this year worse than others ? Until last week the " epidemic wave " manifested with " moderate characteristics from the point of view of their presentation in time and intensity , compared with previous influenza seasons ," according to the National Center for Epidemiology, yet warns that virus a ( H1N1) is normally associated with more serious infections requiring hospitalization and ICU admissions for complications generated .
■ Is it normal to have deaths ? Every year deaths of people infected with influenza occur . The National Statistics Institute ( INE ) records as directly attributable between 200 and 600 deaths each year , but estimates actually affects about 3,000 , because it aggravates previous pathologies . In 2011 , the last year for which detailed data has INE were 214 deaths . In 1998 he recorded 620.
■ How is it prevented? The experts, in addition to basic hygiene measures to avoid infection , a vaccine is recommended for people belonging to risk groups. What are those over 65 , chronically ill, pregnant or nursing homes and health workers.
Getting a vaccination rate of 75% over 65 years is not only a target of WHO for 2015. It is also proposed in 2009 the EU Council and forwarded to members the need to improve policies and vaccination campaigns. The ECDC report notes that in most European countries is still far from that coverage , but includes at least been able to identify what is going wrong : low perception of risk, especially the risk of infecting others , fear of side effects ; doubts about the effectiveness of the vaccine; misleading information in the media and finally the general ignorance of what is influenza and vaccination.
"Despite all resented vaccination coverage in the early years after the pandemic , rates of influenza immunization are not bad in Spain ," says Fernando Simon , director of the Coordinating Center Health Emergency Alerts and the Ministry of health. "Do not have gotten as high coverage as would be desirable , but it is improving. It is a long process. It is a disease that has long thought it was normal, he had to pass it and nothing else. Gradually he is catching the objective of vaccination is fundamentally reduce the likelihood of complications in fragile people , "he adds .
"It is essential to raise awareness . In Spain more than 70 % of patients hospitalized with a severe case of flu were not vaccinated , so this percentage down , especially in the higher risk groups , becomes very important , not only to prevent but also to reduce the risk of contagion , "insists Pumarola . "It's important to have two things : the vaccine does not protect 100 % but who hardly pass being immunized will suffer complications " .
ECDC data also show that vaccination rates among health care workers are very low. In Spain , for example, have dropped from 32.4 % of the 2009-09 season to 24.7 % in last collecting study, 2011-12 . The recommendation of the Council of the EU included the call for Member States to undertake campaigns among healthcare workers. " Workers must be made aware of the health care real danger to their most vulnerable patients face . Should also be made aware of the health care workers of their responsibility in the proper advice to their patients about vaccination , "says the 2009 text .
"In some hospitals vaccination rates rub his staff 30% , although efforts are very aggressive awareness campaigns ," says Pumarola . "It's a problem, because not only can transmit infection , but their attitude is contagious to the people ," he adds . If health workers are more informed than the general population about the flu and vaccines , why are more reluctant to be immunized ? Pumarola said they would like to know the answer . " Then we have the remedy ."
Vaccination campaigns have finished in the regions , as recalled last Thursday 's National Epidemiology Center . The vaccine takes at least two weeks to exert its maximum protective effect , continues this organism , but since the epidemic wave this season will probably last six to eight weeks , people at risk of complications that have not yet been vaccinated may apply in their health centers . Many of them are still available vaccine , say from the Ministry of Health.
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