Murcia health services perform 135,000 pediatric checkups annually

The Murcian Health Service (SMS) conducts approximately 135,000 pediatric checkups every year across 86 health centers in the Region of Murcia. This initiative is part of the recently updated Child and Adolescent Care Program (PANA), which monitors growth, development, and disease prevention for children from birth up to 13 years of age.

Of these annual reviews, roughly 68,000 are for children under two years old, while the remaining 66,500 are for children aged 2 to 13. The program includes monitoring physical and emotional development, nutrition, dental health, and accident prevention. For adolescents, the focus expands to include mental health and addiction prevention.

Vaccination coverage remains exceptionally high in the early stages of life, reaching 99.78% for two-month-old infants. Coverage rates remain strong at 98% for four and six months, 97% at eleven months, and 95% at fifteen months. However, data shows a gradual decline in vaccination rates as children age, dropping to 92% at four years and 78% by age 13.