Uruguay’s MSP has launched a 2025 vaccination campaign targeting influenza, measles, and RSV to safeguard vulnerable groups before the winter peak. Key aspects include flu and measles vaccinations, RSV immunization for pregnant women, and efforts to combat misinformation. The campaign emphasizes high vaccination coverage and public health education to ensure community immunity and prevent outbreaks.
Uruguay’s Public Health Ministry (MSP) has officially launched its 2025 vaccination campaign aimed at combating influenza, measles, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in response to seasonal and emerging health threats. The initiative was announced in Montevideo, emphasizing the need for preventive measures to protect vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children, individuals with chronic illnesses, and healthcare workers.
The flu vaccination effort is set to commence later this month to ensure that at-risk groups receive protection prior to winter’s peak. The vaccine, which is updated annually to align with circulating strains, seeks to minimize hospitalizations and severe health complications.
Furthermore, the MSP has urged citizens to complete the two-dose measles vaccination regimen, especially for children over 15 months, healthcare professionals, and travelers to regions with ongoing outbreaks, including Argentina, Mexico, and Canada. Achieving a vaccination coverage of 95% or higher is critical to prevent the reintroduction of measles in a country that has been measles-free since 2016.
The campaign includes RSV vaccinations for expectant mothers between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation, helping to protect infants from serious respiratory infections that could lead to a burden on hospitals during peak viral seasons. This initiative showcases the MSP’s commitment to maternal and child health based on up-to-date scientific findings.
In addition to rolling out vaccinations, the MSP will conduct visits to Departmental Health Directorates, starting with Canelones, to enhance accessibility, oversee health service operations, and manage logistics effectively. This campaign reiterates the essential role of vaccinations in disease prevention, their cost-effectiveness, and their contribution to health equity, while countering misinformation through appropriate educational measures.
The MSP highlighted the flu vaccine’s effectiveness in reducing infection rates, hospital admissions, and deaths, particularly among vulnerable groups. The application timeframe in March-April is strategically planned to prepare for the southern hemisphere’s winter peak, thereby ensuring timely protection for those most at risk.
Measles, characterized by high contagion rates and serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, necessitates the administration of a second vaccine dose. Despite the Americas being declared measles-free in 2016, the emergence of new outbreaks underscores the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to uphold this status.
The RSV vaccine is beneficial for pregnant women, as it enables the transfer of antibodies to their unborn child, reducing the risk of hospitalization due to RSV by as much as 70% in the first six months post-birth. This aligns with additional measures, including the provision of monoclonal antibodies for premature infants.
Uruguayan authorities have reiterated the historical significance of vaccinations by referencing the eradication of diseases like smallpox in 1980 and the global reduction of polio instances. They underscored the economic benefits of vaccination, emphasizing its cost-effectiveness in lowering healthcare expenses and easing the strain on healthcare systems while combating prevalent misinformation with comprehensive scientific backing for vaccine safety and efficacy.
The 2025 vaccination campaign by Uruguay’s MSP aims to address critical health concerns, such as influenza, measles, and RSV, by prioritizing the protection of vulnerable populations. Enhanced vaccination efforts reflect the Ministry’s commitment to public health, supported by science and education. The initiative’s overarching goal is to sustain high vaccination rates, counter health risks, and reinforce collective community immunity, while also tackling misinformation surrounding vaccines, thus ensuring the welfare of all citizens.
Original Source: en.mercopress.com
