Masked superheroes return to prevent respiratory disease in boys and girls – PAHO/WHO

San Jose, September 23, 2022 Super Responsible, Green Mask, Clean Hands and Super Defense are the masked heroes returning to remind families of the importance of up-to-date vaccinations, clean hands, distance from sick people, zero tobacco smoke and medical care to prevent respiratory diseases in boys and girls.

This educational campaign is an initiative of the National Children’s Hospital (HNN), National Children’s Trust (PANI), Ministry of Health, National Child Care and Development Network (REDCUDI), World Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO). /WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in order to motivate fathers, mothers and guardians to take all necessary measures to respect the right to health of minors.

“As fathers and mothers, we want our sons and daughters to play, learn, eat well, have friends and be happy. That they have healthy strength, that they enjoy their childhood and all their rights. Although the right to health is established in Article 43 of the Code for Children and Adolescents and indicates that adults are responsible for ensuring that compulsory vaccination of children and adolescents is carried out in a timely manner, today I appeal to all of us to implement the measures Recommended by the Super Masked: to be wash hands, keep distance from sick people, zero tobacco smoke, medical care and up-to-date vaccinations. said Minister of Children and Adolescents Gloriana López Fuscaldo.

Health Minister Jocelyn Chacon stated: “As we continue to work to strengthen pediatric vaccination, let’s remember that vaccines save lives, therefore it is important that parents and/or legal guardians attend vaccinations with minors to start or complete their vaccination schedules against COVID-19. We reiterate that vaccines protect against serious illness, hospitalization and death. We invite all children to listen to the messages that the Masked Superheroes want to give them and put all recommendations into practice.”

According to the Directorate of Health Supervision, there are 525,491 boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 11 who are subject to vaccination against COVID-19; but vaccination with the first dose reaches 75.6%, with the second dose it reaches 63.4%, and with the third dose only 4.6%.

The Nationwide Children’s Hospital reports that between 2020 and August 13, 2022, 961 boys and girls required hospitalization for COVID-19, with the 2022 total (513) exceeding the total for 2020 hospitalizations (103 ) and 2021 (354). . In addition, 164 required intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

This medical center states that the current impact of COVID on the pediatric population is explained by the coincidence of low vaccination coverage, non-pharmacological preventive measures, and the predominant circulation of the superinfectious subvariants of the Omicrom variant of SARS-CoV2 (BA.4, BA.5), which distribute exclusively in our country. It also coincides with the peak of respiratory infections caused by other viruses that are being prevented in a very similar way to COVID-19.

With the relaunch of Super Masked, we want to remind ourselves of some of the most effective tools to prevent the spread of disease, including COVID-19. First, the importance of keeping all vaccines up to date and in addition practices such as hand washing and voluntary mask use to prevent the spread of viruses. With them, boys and girls will be able to live more safely in school, the community and other spaces necessary for their overall development, said Patricia Portella de Souza, UNICEF representative in Costa Rica.

Maria Dolores Perez, PAHO/WHO representative in Costa Rica, emphasized the importance of the role of clean hands (hand washing), super protection (vaccination), green mask (wearing a mask) and mega responsible (stay home if you are sick) to prevent the spread of the disease. “The return of the Super Enmascarados fills us with great joy and hope, because their main superpower is that they can not only help prevent COVID-19, but also other respiratory diseases. We must keep in mind that in addition to the unfortunate cases and deaths of COVID-19, seasonal influenza causes between 290,000 and 650,000 deaths each year in the Americas region. In addition, let’s remember that Super Masked protects not only children, but also adults who must be healthy to avoid infecting minors and thus fulfill the responsibility to protect their health and well-being.”

This campaign, an initiative of the director of the National Children’s Hospital, Olga Argedas, is a colorful and galactic proposal, reviewed and validated with children from 3 to 7 years old by CECUDI of San Pedro de Montes de Oca and whose first edition was launched in February 2021.