LIMA, Nov 7 (NNN-ANDINA) — The vaccination process against monkeypox begins on Monday, Nov 7. It will serve as one more tool to protect citizens against this infection present in various parts of the world, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) has announced.
“This November 7, we will launch the vaccination process, prioritizing the population group most affected by this disease who are people living with HIV, (we will be) initially focusing on Metropolitan Lima and Callao (region),” reported Carlos Benites, Executive-director for Control and Prevention of HIV-AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases at Minsa.
The other two population groups eligible to receive this vaccine are composed of citizens at risk of contracting sexually-transmitted infection, such as men who have sex with men, transgender women, as well as sex workers; in addition to health personnel.
The expert explained that the first batch of vaccines will be administered to 14,000 people, who will receive the corresponding dose at large hospitals and some health centers, where these prioritized groups are regularly treated.
Those who are immunized will be registered and receive a vaccination card showing the number of received doses. This vaccine consists of two doses, separated by a period of 28 days.
“By the end of November, a new arrival of vaccines is scheduled, which will enable us to immunize 10,000 more people. It should be mentioned that the world faces a scenario of vaccine shortage; nonetheless, a very important effort has been made to rely on these supplies and protect the population,” the official indicated.
Benites stated that the most common side effect associated with the administration of these vaccines are small swelling or redness on the arm and —on rare occasions— headache, muscle pain, or exhaustion. “It is important to mention that vaccination is an absolutely voluntary process, which requires signed informed consent by the person who receives it,” he said.
The expert explained that to date, more than 3,200 monkeypox cases have been so far registered in Peru.
In Latin America, after Brazil and Colombia, Peru has reported the highest number of infected citizens. — NNN-ANDINA
