Ministry of Health Extends Full Vaccination Coverage Campaign

Mexico’s Ministry of Health (SSA) has announced the extension of the 2024 vaccination coverage recovery campaign until June 30, 2024. This effort, conducted through the National Center for Child and Adolescent Health (CENSIA), not only includes vaccination at health units but also encompasses home visits and the establishment of mobile units to ensure vaccines reach all corners of the country.

The SSA has ensured the availability of a broad range of vaccines under the universal vaccination program, including those against tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, pneumococcus, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, measles, rubella, mumps, rotavirus, and the human papillomavirus (HPV). The goal is to achieve a 90% annual vaccination coverage, a crucial objective to reduce health risks in children and adolescents, reports SSA. 

During this campaign, permanent vaccination activities remain active across all medical units in the 32 states. This routine will continue even after the campaign's conclusion to begin and complete vaccination schedules for children and adolescents.

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum’s strategy prioritizes vaccination programs. According to Sheinbaum, during her administration, the SSA will focus on strengthening vaccination programs for all age groups, as reported by MBN.

During López Obrador’s administration, Mexico encountered substantial challenges in its healthcare system, such as vaccination delays, particularly among children. An investigation by Animal Político (AP) revealed that, under the current administration , deficiencies in the acquisition of basic vaccines limited access, leaving a significant portion of Mexico’s children vulnerable to preventable diseases. This situation could potentially result in a resurgence of illnesses that were previously under control, as reported by MBN.

Between 2019 and 2020, about 6 million children in Mexico were deprived of essential vaccinations, as reported by AP. This deprivation was not due to a lack of available vaccines, but stemmed from delays and inadequate procurement processes undertaken by the federal government, according to AP. 

Crucial vaccines such as the BCG vaccine, essential for shielding newborns against tuberculosis, were not acquired by Mexico for the first time in three decades. Similarly, the absence of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DPT) vaccines in 2019 left Mexico ranking among the bottom 10 countries globally for childhood vaccination coverage.

“It is essential to work together because even if we have vaccines, they will not be effective if people do not get vaccinated. Just having vaccines stored is not enough; it is important to administer them to every individual. This calls for a collective effort involving the government, healthcare workers, civil societies, international organizations, and individuals to reestablish vaccination efforts. This will not happen in a year or two as it will likely take at least five years to regain momentum,” Rodrigo Romero, Coordinator, Mexican Association of Vaccinology told MBN.