Government will carry out vaccination in schools, says Minister of Health – 02/03/2024 – Health

The Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade, stated this Saturday (2) that schools in the country will receive vaccination against different diseases. The federal government’s measure is scheduled for the second half of March, according to the minister.

“We are organizing an action through the Health in Schools program, which is a joint action between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education,” he said.

“It is a program that is greatly supported and greatly appreciated by our president Lula. Vaccination will take place, scheduled for the second half of March. It includes all vaccines”, he added.

The announcement took place in an interview with journalists in Serra (30 km from Vitória), the most populous municipality in Espírito Santo.

The city received the initiative called “D-Day of mobilization against dengue”. This Saturday’s agenda sought to reinforce actions to prevent and eliminate mosquito outbreaks Aedes aegypti.

“Schools are also taking several actions against dengue. The school community is united, [com] materials for teachers, in the specific case of dengue. But the vaccination action [nas escolas] it will be for all vaccines”, declared Nísia.

At the same event, the minister defended a union of efforts to combat dengue in Brazil. Asked if there were plans to expand the target audience for vaccination against this disease, Nísia argued that the quantity of vaccines is still low.

“We received a small offer, we bought all possible stock from the producing laboratory and we are working so that Brazilian laboratories, under the leadership of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, can produce the vaccine in Brazil. But this is not an immediate solution”, stated the minister, who participated in the event in Serra alongside the governor of Espírito Santo, Renato Casagrande (PSB).

As of this Saturday, Brazil records 1,038,475 probable cases of dengue and 258 confirmed deaths from the disease in 2024, according to the Ministry of Health’s Arbovirus Panel. Another 651 deaths are being investigated.

With an incidence rate of 511 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the country’s situation is already considered epidemic, according to WHO (World Health Organization) criteria – above 300 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Luana Lisboa collaborated