A new batch of vaccines against Covid-19 will be delivered to all states and the Federal District, by this Tuesday (10). There are around 1.5 million doses of the Serum vaccine, which is proven to be 90% effective against symptomatic cases in adults. 
They are part of a batch of almost 70 million doses purchased by the Ministry of Health in an electronic auction to keep the Unified Health System’s stocks supplied for two years. The National Immunization Program expects to distribute new shipments across the country in the coming weeks, totaling 5 million doses delivered by the end of the month.
In addition to having shown good results in efficacy and safety tests, the vaccine produced by Zálika Farmacêutica has a longer shelf life and can be transported and stored more simply. The vaccine was approved by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) for use in people over 12 years of age. Therefore, children will continue to receive the vaccine produced by Pfizer.
The Ministry of Health is also taking advantage of the new deliveries to send a document to the states with guidance on the current vaccination strategy against Covid-19. Since the beginning of the year, the vaccine has been part of children’s basic calendar. In addition, vaccination of pregnant women is still recommended, and periodic boosters for the elderly and people who are part of vulnerable groups.
Children should receive the first dose from six months of age, and the second should be taken four weeks later. This basic scheme applies to everyone under 5 years of age and after that you need to take a booster dose. Pregnant women should receive a dose during pregnancy, and if this does not happen, they need to be vaccinated during the postpartum period.
Elderly people over 60 years of age should be vaccinated every six months, as should all people over 5 years of age who have an immunodeficiency.
Other priority groups, such as indigenous people and quilombolas, people with disabilities or comorbidities, or even those who are deprived of their liberty, must receive an annual dose.
