By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Social Security will end the measles vaccination campaign Feb. 8, and 37 percent of the children still have not received the vaccine.
According to the agency, 63 percent of children over 15 months and under 10 years old were already protected against measles. The least-vaccinated age group is between 8 and 9 years old.
According to the report, all regions have vaccination rates that exceed 50 percent, with three weeks still to complete the first phase. Once this first stage is completed, if necessary, the Social Security teams will initiate a search process to vaccinate the infant population that was not vaccinated to reduce the risk of measles virus transmission
The campaign costs $1.2 million, which will be financed by the institution. Social Security specialists are asking parents and caregivers not to miss the opportunity to protect children against this disease. The vaccination will be available in Social Security clinics throughout the country.
According to the specialist, measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by a virus.
Symptoms usually develop 10 to 12 days after exposure to an infected person and last seven to10 days. Initial symptoms typically include fever, often greater than 40 degrees C (104.0 F), cough, runny nose, and inflamed eyes. Small white spots known as Koplik's spots may form inside the mouth two or three days after the start of symptoms. A network, flat rash which usually starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body typically begins three to five days after the start of symptoms.
Common complications include diarrhea, in 8 percent of cases, middle ear infection in 7 percent and pneumonia in 6 percent. Less common are seizures, blindness or inflammation of the brain.
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A.M. Costa Rica wire services photo
Measles is a highly contagious infectious
disease caused by a virus.
The measles vaccination program was put in place as an emergency measure to protect those most vulnerable to the disease immediately as the virus is circulating in more than a dozen countries in the Americas. Outbreaks have occurred in Ecuador, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, United States, Canada, Venezuela, Guatemala, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, among others.
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Did you know that the measles vaccine is free for all children registered with Social Security? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to: news@amcostarica.com.
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