Venezuela: Severe deficit of vaccines in Venezuela
April 22-29, 2017 was marked as “Vaccination Week of the Americas 2017”. Countries like Ecuador, Panama and Colombia successfully completed the week as they are well stocked. However, in Venezuela there is a serious deficit of vaccines in the private and public sector.
The Venezuelan Society of Childhood and Pediatrics (SVPP) revealed the statistics of vaccine deficits in the country. Infants in Venezuela have not received pneumococcal vaccine in the last two years and chicken pox vaccine from the last three years. Only 50% of diphtheria vaccines were available in the Bolivar state when the minimum required is 90%.
Furthermore, there is dearth for yellow fever and BCG vaccine. Venezuela is in deplorable condition in relation to preventive health and urges the authorities to update the stock of vaccines in quantity, quality and regularity. The authorities also requested the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to ensure vigilance on the issue. There is lack of supply of pentavalent vaccines, rotavirus and diphtheria toxoid at national level and there is a need to update the immunization scheme for the inclusion of varicella and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines.
