CÓRDOBA.- The Government of Córdoba will move forward Sanctions for those who do not adhere to the mandatory childhood vaccination schedule. The decision is to reform an article of the Coexistence Code with penalties for parents, guardians or guardians of minors under 18 years of age who do not demonstrate compliance with the prescribed doses. The sanctions envisaged include: a fine and a prison sentence of up to five days or an equivalent penalty for community service. The finding comes against the backdrop of falling vaccination rates across the country.
The provincial health minister, Ricardo Pickesteiner, explained this THE NATION that there will not only be an increase in sanctions – which are triggered when a sector of the health system, whether public or private, warns of non-compliance with the calendar – but that “Vaccination teams will set out en masse to clubs, schools and mass events. We already do this in care homes and at some festivals, but the aim is to expand this task.”
He specified that in Córdoba up to 18 months Average calendar adherence reaches 74% and the goal is to reach 85%: “This is a very good number that prevents eradicated diseases such as chickenpox, whooping cough or measles from coming back.” There has been an outbreak of several of these diseases in the country for several months Experts link this directly to the decline in vaccination rates, a phenomenon called multifactorial..
Pickesteiner stated that the greatest inconvenience occurs after one year of life, since during perinatal checks (of newborns) doctors complete the schedule, “but After a year, many parents stop wearing them“The province will also expand coverage of the flu vaccine and.” will purchase doses to immunize 100,000 children between the ages of 2 and 5Expanding the current age group, as part of the 2026 health strategy.
A month ago the Argentine Society of PediatricsThis was revealed by an analysis of data from official reports in 2024 None of the vaccines evaluated met the 95% programmatic target required to ensure herd immunity. He even revealed that several strategic doses are below 50%. For example, the triple virus vaccine button in the Extermination of Measles, rubella and mumpswhich is valid for five years, its coverage fell by 44 percentage points. Between 2015 and 2019 it was 90% and last year it was 46%..
Córdoba’s decision is based on the experience of Mendoza, which around three months ago classified non-compliance with the prescribed calendar as a Violation and legal complaint to parents who don’t stick to the schedule. A few days ago, the province submitted the first applications to the civil justice system and almost immediately 70 families turned to the vaccination centers.
Pickesteiner admitted that after the Covid-19 pandemic, “a rejection movement” began against vaccines that reached those included in the mandatory schedule. He emphasized that there were “no scientific reasons” for these positions. “Vaccines save lives and improve quality of life. Not getting vaccinated poses an individual and collective risk. because it exposes the others, those with health risks, the older people.”
The minister criticized – as did the Argentine medical community – actions such as those of the pro-Chaco representative, Marilú Quiroz, who organized a session in Congress under the motto “What do vaccines really contain?” Viviana Lens. “Nonsense, a meaningless circus,” said the official.
Through social networks, Health of the Nation, in collaboration with provincial networks, supported the National Vaccination Calendar: “Calendar vaccines are fundamental health tools. “Each of them has been used safely for decades, is supported by solid scientific evidence, and has been shown to be effective in preventing serious illness and death in millions of people.”
The infectologist Hugo Pizzi – a few days ago made an honorary member of the Academy of Medicine of the State of Rio de Janeiro in recognition of his scientific career – told this newspaper: ““Something has to be done to ensure that the herd effect is not lost.”.
“I welcomed Mendoza’s decision and Córdoba’s is very good. There have been similar ones so far this year.” Seven children died from whooping cough, the second dose of this vaccine has an adherence of about 42%. Of course campaigns are welcome,” he argued.
Pizzi condemned “the indifference and abandonment of those who do not bring their children for vaccination. There is no worse decision than this, so everything must be done to counteract these behaviors.”
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