National children’s calendar will include Covid-19 vaccine and will be applied to priority groups in 2024

Immunization

Ministry of Health closely monitors the epidemiological scenario of Covid-19

Immunization against Covid-19 will be included in the National Vaccination Calendar from 2024. The recommendation will prioritize children aged 6 months to under 5 years and groups at highest risk of developing severe forms of the disease: elderly, immunocompromised, pregnant and postpartum women, health workers, people with comorbidities, indigenous people, riverside dwellers and quilombolas, people living in long-term care institutions and their workers, people with permanent disabilities, people deprived of liberty over 18 years of age, adolescents and young people complying with socio-educational measures, employees of the deprivation of liberty system and people living on the streets. The inclusion has already been evaluated by the Covid-19 Immunization Technical Advisory Chamber (CTAI).

The Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade, emphasizes that all immunizers have proven efficacy and safety by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) and follow guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health for application. “In addition, vaccines go through a rigorous quality study process before being incorporated into the SUS”he adds.

In the first week of November, the Ministry of Health will launch a new campaign on open TV, social media and in places with large circulation of people across the country, reiterating the importance of testing, vaccination and treatment. The antiviral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is available throughout the Unified Health System (SUS) network for treating virus infection as soon as symptoms appear and a positive test is confirmed. This medicine is only indicated for people over 65 years of age and immunosuppressed patients over 18 years of age.

Brazil follows the trend observed worldwide and records fluctuations in the number of Covid-19 cases. According to information from the latest InfoGripe Bulletin, produced by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and released this Monday (30), there is an increase in cases in the adult population of Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and São Paulo. Also according to the publication, the increase in notifications in the South region remained at a slow pace.

In Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso do Sul, there was a sign of a slow increase in the occurrences of Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) positive for Covid-19 in the elderly population, but with no impact on the total number of cases identified. Federal District, Goiás and Rio de Janeiro, which previously had a growth alert, showed signs of interruption in the increase in notifications. The bulletin presents information relating to epidemiological week 42, which corresponds to the period from October 15th to 21st.

The Secretary of Health and Environmental Surveillance, Ethel Maciel, reinforces that Covid-19 is a vaccine-preventable disease, that is, capable of being prevented with the vaccine.

“There are a group of diseases defined in this way, such as measles, whooping cough, influenza and Covid-19 also became part of the Department of the National Immunization Program. Covid-19 is a disease that requires constant monitoring, requires attention and that is why we have strengthened prevention actions through the National Vaccination Movement”,

explained.

The vaccine is the main measure to combat the virus and serious forms of the disease. Today, the vaccine is available free of charge in the SUS for the entire population over 6 months of age. People over 18 years of age, who have already taken at least two doses of the vaccine, must receive a booster dose of the bivalent vaccine. People who have not yet completed the vaccination cycle or are overdue for a booster dose can update their booklet at the health units. Vaccination against Covid-19 for children aged 6 months to under 5 years of age consists of three doses, with an interval of 8 weeks between the 1st and 2nd dose, and an interval of 4 months between the 2nd and 3rd dose .

Immunization is a priority for the federal government. In February, the Ministry of Health launched the National Movement for Vaccination, with the aim of recovering high vaccination coverage in Brazil. You can check your vaccination status on the ConecteSUS Cidadão app. Vaccination registration is also done on the paper Vaccination Card, by the local health professional. It is also possible to check the situation at the health unit itself. To do this, the citizen must present personal documents and/or SUS Card to the health professional for verification.

*With information from consultancy

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