Vaccination campaigns have been and are responsible for great advances in health and survival since their implementation in the 19th century. Not in vain, according to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), thanks to vaccines, from 3.5 to 5 million lives are saved every year.
The important role of these drugs as well as the challenges and the future of vaccines were discussed in a scientific session on the achievements and opportunities of vaccination in Spain at the Royal National Academy of Medicine of Spain (RANME), organized by the Spanish Association of Vaccinology. (AEV) in association with Farmindustria.
The conference, organized within the framework of World Immunization Week (from 24 to 30 April), was inaugurated by Pilar Aparicio, Director General of Public Health, Ministry of Health, who stressed that “research has immediate consequences for improving health security, and Together industrial development is two major aspects for our country.
President of RANME, Eduardo Diaz Rubio reviewed that “after drinking water, vaccination is the most effective weapon for reducing the incidence of preventable diseases and, therefore, contributes decisively to the well-being of humanity.”
for his part, Emily Esteve The director of the Technical Department of Farmindustria recalled that «Covid vaccines have been a great example of the role that these drugs can play in not only health, But on the welfare and economic and social development of the society. And, as the European Medicines Agency’s slogan this year points out, every dose must be protected.
In key messages of the day, he highlighted the value of the scientific community’s work to find new vaccines – more than 100 are currently under investigation in Europe alone – and basic research, the importance of which continues to push the numbers About diseases that can be prevented by vaccination.
President of EAV, Jaime Perez Martin emphasized this point and how “vaccination involves many different people, agencies, societies, and institutions who have to work together to prevent preventable maladies and achieve the best health outcomes.”
Vaccination is the most effective weapon after drinking water to reduce the incidence of preventable diseases
Apart from research, the importance of vaccine evaluation during the COVID pandemic and the role of the pharmaceutical industry in meeting approval requirements was underlined. Did agustin portella Head of the Department of Biological Products, Advanced Medicine and Biotechnology of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (Aemps), who recalled that “close to 1,000 million doses of vaccines have been administered in Europe and have not been withdrawn. A lot. We should recognize the great effort made by the companies.”
National Immunization Registry
The conference also addressed the effectiveness of vaccines and the importance of a future national vaccine registry, such as the one that already exists for Covid-19, which would allow for better effectiveness studies, help with decision making and be more protected against There will be population. preventable disease.
In Spain, there has been significant progress in vaccination programs such as Covid in recent years The introduction of influenza and meningococcus B vaccines in children or human papilloma virus in male adolescents, as stated by the president of AEV.
Researchers, representatives of the public administration, the healthcare sector, patients and the pharmaceutical industry had a voice at the event, which was closed by the Secretary of State for Health, Silvia Calzón, who emphasized Spain’s role as an example of efficiency. Covid vaccination and concluded that, “so that vaccines remain a fundamental tool for health protection We have to continue to strengthen the industrial capabilities to manufacture it in our country.
