Child vaccination against covid-19 is suspended in the capital of Rio de Janeiro from tomorrow (17), due to lack of doses, according to information released earlier this evening (16) by the Municipal Health Department of Rio de Janeiro (SMS). River). The vaccination schedule will return as soon as the Rio de Janeiro city hall receives more doses of the immunizers.
Immunization of people from 12 years old continues normally in the city for the first dose of the vaccine, as well as for children between 5 and 11 years old with disabilities or comorbidities. The vaccine is also available as a booster dose for people aged 18 and over who had their second dose four months or more ago; and for the additional dose for persons 18 years of age and older who are immunosuppressed and received three doses in the primary regimen.
wanted by Brazil Agency, the Ministry of Health informed, through its press office, that it has already sent 594,400 doses of the pediatric Pfizer vaccine to the state of Rio de Janeiro, 93,000 of which last Thursday (10). “It should be clarified that the state already had 370 thousand units of CoronaVac in stock, which can be used in the childhood immunization campaign”. The folder also informed that the distribution of doses to the municipalities “is the responsibility of the states”.
doses for all
On its website, the Ministry of Health assured today (16) that “Brazil has pediatric doses to vaccinate all children with the first dose” and that “more than 20 million vaccines were destined for states and the Federal District for the immunization of children aged 5 to 11 years”.
The ministry clarified that the latest doses for children in this age group are contained in Technical Report No. 87, published yesterday (15) by the folder. He added that distribution will begin in the next few days, encompassing 4.6 million doses of covid-19 vaccines for children, 3.2 million for the first dose and 1.4 million for the second dose.
For pediatric immunization, the Pfizer and CoronaVac vaccines are distributed by the ministry. Children who have had the Pfizer vaccine should return to the vaccination post for the second dose eight weeks, or about two months, after taking the first dose. For children who received CoronaVac immunizer, the interval between one dose and another is 28 days.
The ministry also recalled that the vaccination of this public must be authorized by parents or guardians, if they are not present at the time of immunization. In case of doubt, the folder indicates that parents consult a doctor to guide them on the immunization of their young children.
Demand
To meet the demand for vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years, the Ministry of Health has ordered more than 20 million pediatric vaccines from Pfizer for the first quarter of this year. The ministry also directed that about 6.5 million doses of CoronaVac that were in the cold chain of the states and the Federal District were intended for the immunization of children, in addition to the distribution of another 3.3 million of the immunizing agent from the Butantan Institute. with the same purpose.
The inclusion of children in the National Plan for the Operationalization of Vaccination against Covid-19 (PNO) took place after extensive debate with civil society, experts, representatives of scientific societies and the most diverse public entities. Vaccination is not considered mandatory, as recommended by Technical Note No.
