{"id":18760,"date":"2026-11-13T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/?p=18760"},"modified":"2026-11-12T11:28:39","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T16:28:39","slug":"finally-dengue-vaccination-starts-2027-for-ages-10-to-14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/expat-times.com\/panama\/health\/finally-dengue-vaccination-starts-2027-for-ages-10-to-14\/","title":{"rendered":"Finally! Dengue Vaccination Starts 2027 for Ages 10 to 14"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Panama’s Ministry of Health confirmed that dengue vaccination Panama<\/a><\/strong> will become part of the national immunization schedule<\/a> starting in 2027. Health Minister Fernando Boyd Galindo made the announcement during the Global Health Conference<\/a> of the Americas 2026, which runs from November 11 to 13 in Panama City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The decision targets children and adolescents aged 10 to 14, though final technical evaluations will determine whether the campaign focuses on high-incidence regions or covers the entire country. More than 75 specialists from the Americas, Europe, and Asia attended the conference where the plan was unveiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"mosquito
The Global Health Conference of the Americas 2026 serves as the platform for Panama’s announcement. Beware of the mosquito that causes dengue. (Photo: MINSA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dengue Vaccination<\/a> Panama Strategy and Target Groups<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Itzel Slokum de Hewitt, general coordinator of the Expanded Program on Immunization, said the National Advisory Commission on Immunization Practices gave initial approval for the 10 to 14 age group. But she stressed that further technical work remains before the rollout begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities are weighing two approaches. One option concentrates vaccination efforts in provinces with the highest dengue transmission rates. The other extends coverage nationwide. The final decision will shape how many doses Panama procures and how the campaign is structured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#Nacionales El ministro de Salud, Fernando Boyd Galindo, anunci\u00f3 que Panam\u00e1 incorporar\u00e1 la vacuna contra el dengue al esquema nacional de inmunizaci\u00f3n en 2027, como parte de una estrategia integral para reducir el impacto de esta enfermedad en la poblaci\u00f3n.\n\nEl anuncio se realiz\u00f3 durante la inauguraci\u00f3n de la Global Health Conference of the Americas 2026, que se celebra en Panam\u00e1 del 11 al 13 de noviembre con la participaci\u00f3n de m\u00e1s de 75 expertos. La coordinadora del Programa Ampliado de Inmunizaciones, Itzel Slokum de Hewitt, explic\u00f3 que la Comisi\u00f3n Nacional Asesora aval\u00f3 inicialmente el grupo de 10 a 14 a\u00f1os, aunque los equipos t\u00e9cnicos analizar\u00e1n el comportamiento epidemiol\u00f3gico para definir la poblaci\u00f3n objetivo y si se priorizar\u00e1n las \u00e1reas m\u00e1s afectadas o se har\u00e1 una cobertura nacional.\n\nLa funcionaria subray\u00f3 que la vacunaci\u00f3n debe complementarse con la eliminaci\u00f3n de criaderos, nebulizaci\u00f3n y educaci\u00f3n sanitaria. Asimismo, el ministro Boyd Galindo destac\u00f3 el potencial de Panam\u00e1 para consolidarse como un centro regional de salud y cooperaci\u00f3n cient\u00edfica, en un encuentro que aborda temas como el cambio clim\u00e1tico, la inteligencia artificial aplicada a la salud y la preparaci\u00f3n ante futuras pandemias.<\/p>— Radio Chiriqu\u00ed (@RadioChiriqui) November 12, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>\n