Amidst a sharp drop in vaccination rates and a new wave of anti-vaccine rhetoric, public health expert and emergency physician Eduardo Arellano warned that such practices, combined with a lack of medical and state resources, "translate into hospitalizations and deaths."
In an interview with the Argentine News Agency, the expert stated: "Anti-vaccine speeches confuse parents and lead them to visit health centers less, but the impact should not be so great if the state or healthcare workers were to launch campaigns, awareness programs, or advertisements in the media."
Arellano believes that if these "three pillars existed," the discourse of scientific denialism would "have less impact." However, the professional insisted: "There are no campaigns from the state."
"Everything territorial, such as mobile health units, and programs like 'The State in Your Neighborhood,' were discarded. Likewise, in the Ministry of Health of the Nation, the immunization area has been completely emptied, which results in a coverage of up to 50%, which translates into hospitalizations and deaths," he stated.
He also commented on an event organized by Deputy Marilú Quiroz under the slogan 'What do COVID-19 vaccines really contain?' "As a health professional, I feel embarrassed for others because it is not based on any epidemiological or scientific study, but on the opinions of people who have a belief. I think it is much more harmful than any type of vaccine to use botulinum toxin to prevent wrinkles, which was what she had on her face, compared to a vaccine that saves the lives of millions of children," Arellano said.
"Vaccines save lives, prevent hospitalizations, and complications from diseases that were already eradicated or under control. To see the level of madness of these people, the deputy questioned the harmful effects of vaccines when you could very clearly see a Botox treatment on her face," he emphasized.
In response to a question about what he would say to parents who distrust vaccines today, Arellano answered: "Vaccines save millions of lives worldwide. Along with drinking water and sewage systems, they are the best public health measures in history because they prevent complications from serious diseases in children like pneumonia and meningitis. It is a way to save their lives."
He also clarified the right times to vaccinate: "There are three moments for vaccination. In early childhood, from babies up to 18 months, upon school entry at 5 or 6 years, 11 years is another moment, at the beginning of adolescence, during pregnancy, and in older adults."
