The Ministry of Health has extended until June 24 the National Vaccination Campaign against Influenza and Measles for priority groups, with the aim of increasing vaccination coverage for both diseases.
According to the folder, as of June 25, states and municipalities will be able to expand vaccination against influenza to the entire population from 6 months of age, as long as they have doses available. About 80 million doses have already been distributed throughout the country.
The priority groups for Influenza vaccination are the elderly over 60 years of age; health workers; children from 6 months to 5 years old; pregnant and postpartum women; Indian people; teachers; people with comorbidities or permanent disabilities; members of the security, rescue and Armed Forces; truck drivers and workers in urban and long-distance collective road transport for passengers; port workers; prison system staff; population deprived of liberty and adolescents serving socio-educational measures.
The priority groups total almost 80 million Brazilians and, so far, vaccination coverage has reached 44% of this public.
Measles
The Ministry of Health emphasizes that measles immunization is part of the National Vaccination Calendar and doses are available throughout the year. The triple viral vaccine is used, which also prevents mumps and rubella.
According to the National Vaccination Calendar, the vaccine should be given to babies at 1 year of age and booster between 4 and 6 years of age. It is also recommended to apply a dose between 30 and 50 years of age, in people not vaccinated in childhood or youth.
The vaccination campaign started on April 4th and health workers and children from 6 months to under 5 years of age can be vaccinated.
Brazil lost the measles eradication seal in 2019, because of the drop in vaccine coverage. According to data from the Center for Information, Public Policies and Inclusion (Nippis), in three years there were 26 deaths of children under 5 years of age and more than 1,600 hospitalizations for measles in the country, a number that had not been reached since the early 2000s.
Rio de Janeiro
In the city of Rio de Janeiro, the Municipal Health Department begins tomorrow (4) to apply the flu vaccine to all people from 6 months of age.
