​Bogotá, October 22, 2022. The Ministry of Health and Social Protection reminds the public of the need to achieve vaccination coverage of all the biological agents of the permanent schedule and COVID-19 vaccination. The country is preparing the Plan to increase vaccination from October to December.

The increase, for October, means vaccination is expected for 265,999 boys and girls under one year old, 134,708 boys and girls one year old, and 157,847 children five years old. The central vaccination event is on Saturday, October 22, when the public is expected to flock to vaccination points throughout the national territory to start, complete or continue their vaccination schedules.

During the free national event all vaccination points will be enabled in health centers, house to house and in strategic points of the cities and urban centers of the municipalities. The population that needs to be inoculated can arrive with the card to request the vaccine according to age and update their immunization schedules.

The Ministry calls on all Health Benefits Plan Administering Entities (EAPBs) and IPSs that provide vaccination services to guarantee the "Barrier-Free Vaccination" strategy, so that any Colombian, regardless of their insurance, is treated free of charge at all vaccination points in the country.

Therefore, it is a duty to raise awareness about the importance of immunization and make special efforts for equity and access to vaccination for the entire population, remembering that the Expanded Immunization Plan (EPI) has 21 vaccines plus the COVID-19 vaccine, which protect against 27 diseases that can even cause disability and death. Vaccination remains, together with available drinking water, the most important preventive measure to avert diseases worldwide.

Finally, the Ministry of Health invites the entire public that is susceptible and beneficiary of the vaccines available in the national schedule to attend the vaccination points that will be available throughout the country, to guarantee timely and effective protection against these diseases and promotion of barrier-free vaccination. All of these vaccines are free of charge.

Make sure you and your family are up to date on all your vaccinations.