Puerto Vallarta hosted the Jalisco launch of National Vaccination Week 2026, a statewide effort to increase protection against preventable diseases and help residents update incomplete vaccination schedules.
The launch took place on April 25 at the Puerto Mágico maritime terminal. State and local health officials attended, including representatives from the Jalisco Health Secretariat, IMSS, ISSSTE, the Naval Hospital, the municipal health office, and the University of Guadalajara’s Centro Universitario de la Costa.
The campaign runs from April 25 to May 2. In the Puerto Vallarta region, vaccines are being offered at health centers, hospitals, institutional clinics, and through mobile brigades. Officials asked residents to bring their Cartilla Nacional de Salud, or vaccination booklet, when possible.
For many foreign residents, the campaign may be a useful reminder that Mexico’s public health system regularly organizes vaccination drives at public clinics and temporary vaccination sites. These campaigns are not only for children. They also include adults, older adults, pregnant women, and people with incomplete records.
What vaccines are being offered
Health officials said the week includes vaccines against measles, rubella, and mumps, as well as hexavalent vaccines for infants. The hexavalent shot protects against several serious diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type b.
The campaign also includes vaccines against tuberculosis, influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal disease, rotavirus, hepatitis, tetanus, diphtheria, and other diseases included in Mexico’s national vaccination schedule.
Jalisco’s statewide goal is to apply more than 118,000 doses during the campaign. Nationally, health authorities are using the week to recover coverage that may have fallen behind and to reduce gaps among higher-risk groups.
The effort also comes after months of public attention on measles vaccination in Jalisco and Puerto Vallarta. That gives this year’s campaign extra relevance for families, school communities, and residents who may not know whether their records are complete.
A new vaccine for pregnant women
One of the main changes this year is the inclusion of a vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus, often called RSV or VSR in Spanish. Jalisco health officials said the vaccine will be offered to pregnant women in the final stage of pregnancy.
The vaccine is intended to help protect newborns during their first months of life, when respiratory infections can become more serious. Officials said it applies between weeks 32 and 36 of pregnancy.
RSV is a common respiratory virus. In many people, it causes mild cold-like symptoms. But it can lead to more serious illness in babies, older adults, and people with underlying health conditions.
For pregnant women, the best step is to ask directly at a health center or a doctor. Vaccine recommendations can depend on pregnancy stage, medical history, and local availability.
Why this matters for residents
Vaccination campaigns in Mexico often combine several goals. They help children catch up on missed doses, give adults the needed boosters, and make it easier for families to check their records without waiting for a regular appointment.
That matters in Puerto Vallarta because the city has a large mobile population. Local residents, workers, students, tourists, seasonal visitors, and foreign residents move through the same schools, clinics, workplaces, and public spaces.
For newcomers to Mexico, the Cartilla Nacional de Salud may be unfamiliar. It is the official booklet used to track vaccines and preventive care. People who do not have one can still ask at a public health center what records or identification may be needed.
Residents with private doctors may also use this week to compare their personal records with Mexico’s public schedule. This is especially useful for families with children in school, adults who have not reviewed boosters in years, and older adults who may qualify for additional protection.
Where people can go
In the Puerto Vallarta health region, authorities said vaccination will be available at 35 health centers, three regional hospitals, three IMSS facilities, one ISSSTE facility, one Naval facility, and through 15 mobile brigades.
The announced local schedule is from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. during the campaign. Availability can vary by site and vaccine type, so residents should check with their nearest clinic before making a special trip.
Jalisco also maintains a vaccine-route platform where residents can find nearby vaccination points and information on the state’s vaccine schedule.
The main message from health authorities is simple: review your records, update missing vaccines, and use the campaign while extra vaccination points are active.
