Dengue, vaccines, mosquito repellent and laboratories: what the Minister of Health said | Mario Russo on the epidemic

The Minister of Health, Mario Russo, gave a television interview in which he referred to the dengue outbreak that is going through the country. In this context, the government official of Javier Milei held the provinces and municipalities responsible for carrying out “the operational phase” for the prevention and control of cases.

After a total of 180,259 cases were confirmed last weekend (163,419 were reported this year), Russo assured on the TN signal that “the laboratories, the media and the caste are pushing” to start an immunization campaign once morest the virus. mosquito.

Meanwhile, he confirmed the opening of the importation of repellents through the suspension of the intervention by ANMAT for 30 days. Thus, he specified that what was enabled is “door-to-door” purchasing in foreign sites.

On the other hand, he also highlighted that the decision so far is not to include the dengue vaccine in the immunization program.

“It is a vaccine that has passed phase 3, which has been safe and effective, but the definitions that we are going to take as a ministry have to do with the risk-benefit of the people,” he expressed.

And he closed: “Brazil is doing an interesting experiment, but vaccinating 10 to 14 years old. In Misiones and Salta they vaccinate other ages. We were not opposed, but we are observing those experiences.”

The most outstanding phrases of the Minister of Health Mario Russo

Responsibility of the jurisdictions: “We can exercise stewardship, strategic planning of public health policies, setting the course, setting practical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of dengue. But the provinces, governors and their health ministers, the sooner they understand that it is their responsibility to carry out the operational phase of this public policy, we are going to have much better results. Today the results are complicated.”

Alleged pressures: “I have been criticized a lot, but I want to be clear regarding this: there are interests in health. Doesn’t it strike your attention that I have been on the national channel for four days? Because the laboratories, the media and the caste are putting pressure on me. There are interests “The President and we are convinced of what we do and the decisions we are going to make have to do with the evidence we have.”

About the vaccine: “What we say is that the vaccine is safe and effective. Now, as Minister of Health I have the power to make a decision regarding the vaccination schedule. We only said that to mitigate the outbreak and everyone says it , the vaccine is not a validated tool. The decision is up to each inhabitant, who needs a medical prescription. Sometimes one feels that pseudoscientists who present themselves as senior professors have some conflict of interest.”

The importation of repellents: “We are in permanent communication with the suppliers of repellents. Today what is enabled is door-to-door purchasing for people. Since we came to government, the Ministry of Economy released the obstacles to import, not only supplies , but also finished products”.

“We communicated with the 24 ministers of the provinces; we communicated the data and the serotype of the virus that is circulating. When we arrived at the Ministry, we did not find any repellents.”

“The decision so far is not to include the vaccine in the National Immunization Program, and we work with PAHO and the National Immunization Commission on pharmacovigilance. The vaccine passed phase 3 and has been safe and effective, but it is still of ‘field testing’ in case an adverse effect appears.

“The president has given us the responsibility and support to define who is going to be vaccinated, where and when with scientific evidence. We are not interested in the rest.”

“The State is a great buyer for laboratories, we came to change this status quo.”

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