Flu vaccine will be offered to new groups in SP – 04/14/2023 – Health

The Municipal Secretary of Health of São Paulo announced this Friday (14) the expansion of the vaccination campaign against the influenza virus, which causes the flu, starting next Monday (17).

According to the folder, from last Monday (10), the first day of vaccination in the city, until this Thursday (13), 218,713 people received the vaccine.

In all, 2,071,000 doses were allocated by the Ministry of Health to the municipality to be initially applied to priority groups, with 582 thousand received this Friday.

In this new phase, you can immunize:

• health professionals;
• education professionals: people with permanent disabilities or with comorbidities;
• professionals in public road transport, urban and long-distance passenger transport;
• port professionals;
• workers in the security and rescue forces, the armed forces and the prison system;
• population deprived of liberty, including adolescents in socio-educational measures.

Since the beginning of the campaign, people over 60 years of age, children (aged 6 months and under 6 years), pregnant women, puerperal women (up to 45 days after childbirth), immunosuppressed and indigenous people have been vaccinated.

“This expansion to groups of professionals with greater exposure to the flu virus is very important for the individual and collective protection of the people with whom they live and attend daily”, says the municipal secretary of Health, Luiz Carlos Zamarco.

The immunizer is available at all UBSs (Basic Health Units), open from Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7pm, and at the AMAs (Outpatient Medical Assistance)/Integrated UBSs, which are open from 7am to 7pm, including Saturdays and holidays.

According to the Health Department, last year 4,457,341 people were vaccinated in the capital.

Why is it important to get the flu vaccine annually?

A characteristic of the virus is mutation. Vaccines are prepared for the seasonality of the following year. The viruses that circulated the most in the previous year are collected. The data regarding them is sent to the WHO (World Health Organization), which issues a note to the producing laboratories saying which strains should be included in the southern hemisphere.

In SUS (Unified Health System), immunizers are trivalent, produced by the Butantan Institute. The vaccine offered this year is composed of two strains of influenza A and one of B.

For Brazilian private clinics, the novelty this year is the Efluelda vaccine, aimed at the public over 60 years old. The immunizer, scheduled for arrival in April, is quadrivalent with a high concentration of antigens and provides a relative effectiveness of 24.2% more in protecting the elderly population, compared to the standard dose vaccine.

How long does it take for the vaccine to take effect?

At least 7 to 10 days, but the greatest production of antibodies occurs at four weeks. When the circulation of the virus increases, the defense system is already armored.

Can you take the flu vaccine along with the bivalent and the others against Covid?

Yes. The flu vaccine can be taken with any other vaccine on the immunization schedule.

What are the side effects?

In up to 10% of cases, pain at the application site, redness and skin tightening may occur. Below 3% there are systemic manifestations, such as low fever, feeling tired, muscle pain, headache. All reactions end around 48 to 62 hours. If they persist, it is recommended to seek a health service.

Are there contraindications?

The person should observe if he is allergic to the principles of the vaccine. Those allergic to eggs may receive the vaccine, including those with a history of anaphylaxis. Egg allergy is no longer considered a contraindication or precaution for the use of the influenza virus vaccine. The orientation is that the vaccine is applied in a hospital service, because, if the patient develops the allergic condition, it will be possible to revert it.

Can you get the vaccine with flu-like symptoms?

No. If any infection is suspected, the vaccine should be applied 48 to 72 hours after the condition improves.

Does the vaccine cause the flu?

No. The vaccine is made with inactivated virus. There are two common confusions: the person taking the vaccine, developing an adverse reaction and thinking it was the flu; or already be infected with any virus or bacteria when vaccinated.

_{Sources: Melissa Palmieri, director of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations — Regional São Paulo and doctor of the Epidemiological Surveillance of the Municipal Health Secretariat of São Paulo, and Ministry of Health.}