Immunization: important field of activity for infectious disease specialists

Abstract

The panorama of infectious diseases has changed greatly in recent decades, due in large part to the large-scale application of vaccines to prevent these diseases. Important achievements have been made, such as the eradication of smallpox, the decrease in polio cases, measles, rubella, leading to control of congenital rubella syndrome; a significant reduction of cases of meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b. In Brazil vaccines are distributed free to the public through the National Immunization Program (PNI), which in 1973 comprised seven preventive vaccines for infectious diseases. In 2014 provides preventive vaccines for 18 infectious diseases. Much remains to be done. The role of the expert in infectious diseases in the policies of prevention by vaccination is of great importance. The Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases of the FMUSP has contributed in immunizations teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, in discussing the development of vaccination programs, research on immunizations, and providing service to the community, through the CRIE-HCFMUSP.