La inmunización es el proceso por el que una persona se hace resistente a una enfermedad, tanto por el contacto con ciertas enfermedades, o mediante la administración de una vacuna. Las vacunas estimulan el sistema inmunitario del cuerpo para proteger a la persona contra infecciones o enfermedades. La inmunización previene enfermedades, discapacidades y defunciones por enfermedades prevenibles por vacunación, tales como el cáncer cervicouterino, la poliomielitis, el sarampión, la rubéola, la paroditis, la difteria, el tétanos, la tos ferina, la hepatitis A y B, las neumonías bacterianas, las enfermedades diarréicas por rotavius y las meningitis bacterianas.

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Tu decisión marca la diferencia. Inmunización para todos

Respuesta de la OPS

El Programa Especial de Inmunización Integral (CIM) busca promover y coordinar la cooperación técnica y las alianzas para apoyar los esfuerzos de los Estados Miembros para reducir de manera sostenible y equitativa la morbilidad y mortalidad por enfermedades prevenibles por vacunación (EPV) a través de estrategias de control y eliminación para mejorar la calidad y esperanza de vida de los pueblos de las Américas.

Durante más de 40 años, el éxito del Programa Ampliado de Inmunización (PAI), o Programa Nacional de Inmunización en algunos países, ha hecho de la Región de las Américas un líder mundial en la eliminación y el control de las EPV, como la viruela, la poliomielitis, la rubéola, el síndrome de rubéola congénita, el sarampión y el tétanos neonatal. Desde la creación del PAI en 1977, los países han pasado de utilizar seis vacunas en sus esquemas nacionales de vacunación, a una media de más de 16 vacunas, lo que representa una mayor protección para la población.

En el marco de la resolución "Revitalizar la inmunización como un bien público para la salud universal" aprobada en 2021 por los cuerpos directivos de la OPS, CIM busca revitalizar los programas de inmunización en los Estados Miembros mediante la aplicación de enfoques innovadores y mejores prácticas a través de seis líneas de acción: 

  1. Fortalecer la gobernanza, el liderazgo y la financiación de los programas de inmunización
  2. Mejorar el seguimiento de la cobertura vacunal y la vigilancia, incorporando estrategias de inteligencia digital en los análisis rutinarios
  3. Fortalecer la integración de los programas de inmunización en el sistema de atención primaria de salud hacia la salud universal
  4. Desarrollar enfoques de comunicación innovadores y estratégicos para crear conciencia social y confianza en las vacunas y aumentar el acceso a los servicios
  5. Fortalecer las capacidades de recursos humanos para los programas de inmunización
  6. Utilizar pruebas científicas para orientar la toma de decisiones y la ejecución de programas

 


Immunization Agenda 2030

Agenda de Inmunización 2030

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Regional Immunization Action Plan

Plan de Acción Regional de Inmunización para las Américas 2030 (RIAP)

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Diseases Elimination Initiative 2030

Iniciativa para la Eliminación de Enfermedades 2030

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SAG VPD

Grupo Asesor Estratégico (GAE) en Enfermedades Prevenibles por Vacunación (EPV)

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Recursos para los PAI y datos sobre inmunización

 

Herramienta de Monitoreo del Programa Ampliado de Inmunización Nacional​

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Caja de Herramientas de Inmunización

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Información sobre las enfermedades prevenibles por vacunación (EPV) y las vacunas correspondientes

Recomendaciones técnicas de los grupos asesores en inmunización

Imagen de niña feliz viendo atentamente a su maestro o maestra en la escuela

Grupo Asesor Estratégico (GAE) en Enfermedades Prevenibles por Vacunación (EPV)

El Grupo Asesor Estratégico (GAE) sobre Enfermedades Prevenibles por Vacunación (EPV) es un grupo de expertos convocados por la OPS para proporcionarle a esta asesoramiento técnico, científico o estratégico. De acuerdo con su función asesora, el GAE EPV aconseja y recomienda, no aprueba ni decide. El GAE EPV ayuda a evaluar o analizar, a valorar críticamente y evaluar una situación y, en última instancia, proporciona al Director de la OPS consejos o recomendaciones que la organización, a su vez, puede decidir seguir o no seguir.

 

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Grupo Técnico Asesor (GTA) sobre enfermedades prevenibles por vacunación (EPV)

Los miembros del GTA son expertos en áreas relacionadas con vacunas e inmunización de América Latina, el Caribe, Canadá y Estados Unidos. Como parte sus actividades, después de cada reunión, el GTA emite recomendaciones que proporcionan orientación técnica sobre las estrategias y las tácticas óptimas para alcanzar las metas generales del Programa Ampliado de Inmunización (PAI) en la Región.

Reuniones regulares

Reuniones Ad Hoc

 

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health worker and staff carrying vaccines on field

 

Preguntas frecuentes sobre vacunación del personal de salud

 

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Comunicación social y generación de la demanda de vacunas

 

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Cómo luchar contra la información falsa sobre las vacunas:

misinformation guide health workers

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The document "Combating False Information on Vaccines: A Guide for Health Workers" is designed to help health workers address vaccine misinformation. It begins by defining misinformation and explaining why it spreads rapidly, often due to its emotional appeal and simplistic explanations. The guide identifies common sources of vaccine misinformation, including influential individuals who profit from spreading false information. The document outlines strategies for combating misinformation, emphasizing the importance of health workers as trusted sources. It provides tips for identifying misinformation online, such as checking URLs, dates, and author credentials, and recognizing tactics like evoking strong emotions or pushing conspiracy theories. Two main approaches to fighting misinformation are discussed: prebunking and debunking. Prebunking involves warning individuals about potential misinformation before they encounter it, while debunking aims to correct false information after it has been consumed. The guide offers practical examples for both methods. Additionally, the document highlights the role of health workers in supporting peers and patients to trust immunization. It suggests being kind, nonjudgmental, and transparent when addressing concerns, and using motivational interviewing techniques to understand and respond to patients' doubts. Overall, the guide emphasizes the critical role of health workers in maintaining trust in vaccines and provides comprehensive strategies to identify, address, and prevent the spread of vaccine misinformation in clinical and community settings. The guide is a valuable resource for health workers to enhance their ability to combat vaccine misinformation, support informed decision-making, and promote trust in vaccines within their communities, and it addresses a pressing issue with practical solutions, supports trusted health workers, and ultimately aims to protect public health by promoting accurate information and trust in vaccines.

misinformation guide for epi managers

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The document "Combating False Information on Vaccines: A Guide for EPI Managers" is designed to help Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) managers address vaccine misinformation. It begins by defining misinformation and explaining why it spreads rapidly, often due to its emotional appeal and simplistic explanations. The guide identifies common sources of vaccine misinformation, including influential individuals who profit from spreading false information. The document outlines strategies for combating misinformation, emphasizing the importance of EPI managers as trusted sources. It provides tips for identifying misinformation online, such as checking URLs, dates, and author credentials, and recognizing tactics like evoking strong emotions or pushing conspiracy theories. Two main approaches to fighting misinformation are discussed: prebunking and debunking. Prebunking involves warning individuals about potential misinformation before they encounter it, while debunking aims to correct false information after it has been consumed. The guide offers practical examples for both methods. Additionally, the document highlights the role of EPI managers in supporting health workers to trust immunization. It suggests being kind, nonjudgmental, and transparent when addressing concerns, and using motivational interviewing techniques to understand and respond to health workers' doubts. The guide also emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment for health workers, promoting pro-vaccine norms, and providing continuing education on vaccines. Overall, the guide aims to help EPI managers maintain trust in vaccines and provides comprehensive strategies to identify, address, and prevent the spread of vaccine misinformation in clinical and community settings. This document is necessary to equip EPI managers with the knowledge and tools to combat vaccine misinformation, support their teams, and promote trust in vaccines, ultimately protecting public health.

 

misinformation guide for rcce comms teams

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False information about vaccines and vaccination – whether it is spread intentionally (known as disinformation) or not (known as misinformation) – poses a serious threat to public health in the Americas. Multiple studies have shown that exposure to vaccine-related misinformation can shake population trust in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) and negatively impact individuals’ attitudes and intentions toward vaccination, even among individuals who have previously been vaccinated. Unsurprisingly, misinformation that implies vaccination causes harm and that sounds scientifically credible has shown to be more likely to deter individuals from intending to get vaccinated. Fighting back against science deniers and their misinformation is a critical part of maintaining trust in immunization and protecting populations from a variety of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). Critical in this fight are understanding how and why misinformation spreads; which approaches can be employed to combat it, both before and after people have been exposed; and rebuilding trust in immunization after it has been shaken. Ministry of Health risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) teams face a daunting task in staying abreast of misinformation, so they are able to monitor it and take decisive action to combat it when needed. By collaborating at the national, district, and local levels with a variety of partners – including health workers (HW), who have been repeatedly shown to be the most trusted source of information on vaccines and vaccination – RCCE teams can use several different approaches to equip their audiences with the tools and knowledge to resist misinformation.
misinformation guide for educators

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The document "Combating False Information on Vaccines: A Guide for Educators" aims to help educators address vaccine misinformation. It begins by defining misinformation and explaining why it spreads rapidly, often due to its emotional appeal and simplistic explanations. The guide identifies common sources of vaccine misinformation, including influential individuals who profit from spreading false information. The document outlines strategies for combating misinformation, emphasizing the importance of educators as trusted sources. It provides tips for identifying misinformation online, such as checking URLs, dates, and author credentials, and recognizing tactics like evoking strong emotions or pushing conspiracy theories. Two main approaches to fighting misinformation are discussed: prebunking and debunking. Prebunking involves warning individuals about potential misinformation before they encounter it, while debunking aims to correct false information after it has been consumed. The guide offers practical examples for both methods. Additionally, the document highlights the role of educators in supporting students and their families to trust immunization. It suggests being kind, nonjudgmental, and transparent when addressing concerns, and using motivational interviewing techniques to understand and respond to students' doubts. The guide also includes lesson plan ideas and video discussion questions to help educators integrate these strategies into their classrooms. Overall, the guide emphasizes the critical role of educators in maintaining trust in vaccines and provides comprehensive strategies to identify, address, and prevent the spread of vaccine misinformation in educational settings. It provides educators with the knowledge and tools to identify and combat vaccine misinformation effectively. This is crucial as educators are trusted sources of information and can influence students and their families positively.

misinformation guide for journalists

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Journalists play a critical role in keeping the public up to date on information they need to be healthy, including staying current on their vaccines. Along with health workers, the media is one of the most trusted sources the public have for scientific information; journalists help shape perceptions, attitudes, and even behaviors. This document aims to support journalists, regardless of their medium, to accurately cover stories related to vaccines and vaccination. Journalists play a critical role in keeping the public up to date on information they need to be healthy, including staying current on their vaccines. Along with health workers, the media is one of the most trusted sources the public have for scientific information; journalists help shape perceptions, attitudes, and even behaviors. While misinformation about vaccination is as old as vaccines themselves, its more recent explosion, especially on social media, has caused concern for health professionals and scientists. Studies have demonstrated that even brief exposure to vaccine misinformation can negatively impact individuals’ attitudes and intentions toward vaccination, even among people who have previously been vaccinated. As vaccination coverage rates fall, populations are left exposed to deadly vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) like measles, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, tetanus, and others. Keeping people healthy and protected from VPDs requires collaboration across sectors, especially in the face of vaccine misinformation. For this reason, PAHO has created this document for media professionals covering vaccination, which covers bias and balance, norms and perceptions, and tips on other related topics, as well as additional resources for further information.
combating-false-information-vaccines-tips-content-creators-thumb

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Have you seen or heard something about vaccines online that has made you do a double take? There is no shortage of vaccine misinformation out there, from wild conspiracy theories to small pieces of the truth that have been distorted or blown out of proportion. What is true though, is that the overwhelming majority of scientists and medical experts agree that vaccines are safe and effective, and that not being vaccinated puts you and your loved ones at risk of deadly diseases that could start to make an appearance again if not enough people are vaccinated. Because even a brief exposure to misinformation about vaccines can impact a person’s decision to get vaccinated, it is important that we all do our part to stop its spread. As a content creator on social media, you can learn tips and tricks on how to spot misinformation and share them with your followers. By doing so, you will be making the world a healthier and safer place – and who does not want that?

 

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