Author’s Note: This is not medical advice. When it comes to matters of immunization and prophylaxis, readers are urged to consult with health care professionals.

News about the status of certain vaccines in our country have dominated headlines in recent days. The most notorious headline has been that of the special vaccines against the seasonal influenza AH1N1 and AH3N2. According to a report in La Nacion, a shipment of the vaccine was delayed due to red tape in La Caja. In the past, the schedule of vaccination against the flu and associated strains in Costa Rica took place in January. For this year, immunization is just getting started.

Another vaccine in the news is Prevenar 13, an anti-pneumoccocus measure for adults aged 50 years and older. Prevenar 13 has been approved for use in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala. In the United States, cases of pneumonia caused by bacteria of the genus pneumococcus numbered over 400,000 last year.

While Prevenar 13 will probably be well-received by the population, a version of the vaccine for children has come under fire. The problem is that some medical investigators claim that the anti-pneumoccocus vaccine has been hastily approved by public health authorities without the proper clinical trials. An international consortium of immunologists has given the green light for the vaccine, but the involvement of Tico medical authorities has been minimal, leading many to believe that there are ulterior motives behind it.

The Current Schedule of Immunizations in Costa Rica

Like many other developing countries in tropical regions, Costa Rica is often considered to be a hotbed of exotic maladies and endemic dangers lurking around every corner. Public health concerns in our country are taken very seriously by the respective authorities, and while it is true that our rich biodiversity is home to a number of microorganisms that could prove harmful to humans who don’t take the recommended precautions, many preventive measures are available to both residents and visitors.

Besides our geographical location in the tropics, Ministry of Health officials have one more reason to be concerned about endemics and communicable diseases: the country’s increased tourism and immigration rates. This is a concern shared by other Third World countries that enjoy tourism revenues. Another factor to consider is that Costa Rica depends on many imports, and that we are adjacent -or close to- endemic countries with a history of outbreaks.

Costa Rica follows, for the most part, the schedule recommended by the World Health Organization against tuberculosis, polio, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, meningitis, hepatitis B, pertussis, varicella, and a few others. The Ministry of Health and La Caja coordinate immunizations at their various health care centers and in public schools. In rural and low-income communities, they sometimes go door-to-door to ensure that children are vaccinated.

Parents of infants born in Costa Rica are given an immunization chart that includes a child developmental checklist to follow until they reach their first year of life. For example, a child should be able to sit down and support his or her own head by four months. These developmental milestones are a matter of public health at a time when incidence of autism spectrum disorders is increasing in Costa Rica and around the world.

Information for Travelers

The best sources of information and medical travel alerts for Costa Rica can be found on the websites of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States, the World Health Organization (WHO), and our Ministry of Health.

While many tourists don’t think too much about communicable diseases while planning a trip to our country, those with medical conditions or traveling with young children should visit their doctors before heading for the airport. It is always a good idea to carry a copy of immunization records, preferably international certificates such as forms CDC-731 or PHS-731 issued by government health organizations in the United States.

Aside from an up-to-date routine immunization schedule, Hepatitis A and B vaccines are recommended, particularly for those visitors who expect to visit medical facilities -like volunteer and charity workers. The same goes for vaccines to protect against rabies and typhoid.

Vector-borne Diseases

Dengue fever is a threat that should be taken seriously due to the severe effects that can have on humans. Hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome are the two unpleasant outcomes that may arise from an encounter with a mosquito carrying the dengue virus. Over the last couple of years, the Ministry of Health has worked with public and private enterprises in an attempt to biologically control and eradicate this danger. Dengue-carrying mosquitoes are usually found feeding and reproducing in stagnant pools of water, something that Ticos and health authorities have been trying to prevent. Spot fumigation efforts are also underway in the remote rural areas most likely to host dengue.

Malaria is another disease carried by mosquitoes that may never be eradicated from the many subtropical regions around the world. In Costa Rica, malaria is mostly confined to areas of the Limon province surrounded by jungle. It is not endemic in the city of Limon, but some cases in the Talamanca and Tortuguero regions have been reported. According to the CDC, the risk to travelers is low, while the risk to residents is moderate. A prophylactic regime against malaria should only be taken by individuals who know that they will be entering an area with high incidence of the disease.

The best prevention against dengue fever and malaria is prevention against mosquito bites in general. Repellents, anti-insect netting and diets high in garlic, lemon and B1 vitamins are adequate preventive measures.