The Ministry of Health warned today (11) of the importance of immunizing the more than 80 million people who are part of the priority group for flu vaccination. In 2022, 68% of the target audience received the dose. For this year, the goal is to immunize 90% of the priority group, which includes the elderly; children from 6 months to under 6 years old; pregnant and puerperal women; indigenous; health workers; public and private network teachers; and people with comorbidities.
People with permanent disabilities should also receive the trivalent dose, which protects against the main strains of the virus; security and rescue forces; members of the Armed Forces; truck drivers; urban and long-distance public road passenger transport workers; port workers; prison system officials; adolescents and young people aged 12 to 21 under socio-educational measures; and population deprived of liberty.
The increase in flu or influenza cases registered in recent years, according to the folder, reinforces the importance of vaccination in an attempt to avoid serious cases and deaths, especially in those at higher risk. In 2021, 7,200 cases and 901 deaths were recorded in the country while, in 2022, the numbers jumped to 12,169 and 1,612, respectively. This year, 1,300 cases of influenza have already been confirmed, in addition to 87 deaths.
Campaign
With the Vaccine is life concept. Vaccine is for everyone, the publicity campaign prepared by the folder begins to be broadcast nationally this Tuesday (11) on open TV, closed TV and social networks, in addition to places of great circulation of people, radio and internet. A total of 80 million doses of the trivalent influenza vaccine, produced by the Butantan Institute, will be distributed in a staggered manner, according to the progress of the campaign.
The vaccine formulation is updated annually so that the dose is effective in protecting against virus strains that circulated in the previous year. The ministry reinforced that the vaccine against influenza can be applied along with any vaccine from the National Immunization Program, including those for covid-19. This year, the recommendation for states and municipalities is that flu vaccination be done in one step, covering all priority groups.
Children
All children who received at least one dose of the flu vaccine in previous years should receive only one dose in 2023. For the indigenous population and people with comorbidities, the vaccine is indicated for children aged 6 months to under 9 years. The two-dose schedule should be considered for all children who will be vaccinated for the first time, with the second dose scheduled for 30 days after the first.
