Low Dengue Vaccination Rates in Peru Amid Rising Cases
Peru’s Ministry of Health (Minsa) has so far administered only 45,228 doses of the dengue vaccine since the campaign began on November 23, 2023, covering just 20.30% of the targeted 222,750 children aged 10 to 16 across 16 prioritized districts in Loreto, Ucayali, Tumbes, and Piura regions. This two-dose vaccination requires a three-month interval between doses.
According to health data analyst Juan Carbajal, using the Reunis (Repositorio Único Nacional de Información en Salud), Loreto has the highest vaccination coverage at 30.24%, followed by Ucayali (22.96%), Tumbes (17.48%), and Piura (14.55%). Carbajal notes that the third week of February marks the window for administering the second dose, with Loreto leading the pace.
While vaccination progresses slowly, dengue cases are surging swiftly. Since mid-2023, cases have increased mainly in Piura, Loreto, Ucayali, San Martín, Cusco, Madre de Dios, Huánuco, Ayacucho, and Puno regions. By the end of 2024’s Week 51, Peru has reported 279,564 dengue cases and 260 deaths.
Ricardo Peña Sánchez, viceminister of Public Health, attributes the low vaccination turnout to parents’ reluctance to sign consent forms and bring their children to health facilities. He emphasizes the need for better parent engagement and education about the vaccine.
However, infection experts like Juan Carlos Celis and Antonio Quispe contend that weak communication campaigns, antivaccine groups, and insufficient prevention measures are at play. They urge the Minsa to improve communication, especially in schools, and stress the importance of the second vaccine dose for maximum protection.
Dengue symptoms include nose or mouth bleeding, abdominal pain with vomiting, fever, and general discomfort. Seek medical attention if you experience these symptoms.
