Mexico joined the SVA 2024 with binational border vaccination – PAHO/WHO

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Mexico, May 3, 2024.- The Ministry of Health (SS) promoted throughout Mexico and throughout the month of April, the “Campaign to recover vaccination coverage”, with emphasis on the prevention of measles, rubella and poliomyelitis.

The SS also promoted simultaneous binational border vaccination activities in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, within the framework of Vaccination Week of the Americas 2024 “Act now to protect your future”, promoted by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization. Health (PAHO/WHO).

To increase the visibility of binational vaccination actions, protocol events were coordinated at each border, in which authorities and guests from the three operational-administrative levels of the Ministry of Health, Government of Chiapas, Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance in the case of activities with Guatemala, as well as the Government of Quintana Roo, the departmental and local level of the Ministry of Health Belize and the accompaniment of PAHO/WHO in both celebrations surrounding vaccination.

The objectives of the multi-country simultaneous vaccination activities that took place from April 20 to 27 of this year were:

Initiate and complete vaccination schedules with lifeline criteria and based on the current vaccination schedules in each country in order to maintain the elimination of poliomyelitis, measles, rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize through the application of missing doses according to the age groups and corresponding vaccine.

Move towards compliance with vaccination coverage of at least 95% by type of vaccine at the national and subnational level, to reduce the accumulation of susceptible people for diseases preventable by vaccination.

Vaccinated people acquire immunity, promoting herd or group immunity, which indirectly protects the rest of the population as long as coverage is high. For this reason, the PAHO/WHO Representation in Mexico accompanied the vaccination efforts that were reflected in the 32 entities of the country.

In this context, the organization also joined the respective activities organized around the “Vacunatón” of the Tláhuac mayor’s office, Mexico City; in Mexicali and in Tijuana, Baja California. In addition, a training workshop on Rapid Vaccination Monitoring was held and house-to-house activities were participated to bring vaccines closer to the communities in the state of Sonora.

Vaccination is a form of health intervention that has proven its benefit over time; Due to its mechanism of action, vaccination allows the eradication of diseases since it favors long-term protection. Guaranteeing effective access to vaccination is essential to improve the well-being of the population and reduce health gaps. Act now to protect your future.