SP starts applying the bivalent vaccine against Covid – 02/27/2023 – Health

The bivalent vaccine against Covid, manufactured by Pfizer, began to be applied this Monday (27) in the city of São Paulo. The vaccine is an updated version that protects against both the original coronavirus strain and the BA.1 omicron variant.

At first, elderly aged 70 years or older are able to receive the dose, which serves as a booster; people aged 12 and over living in long-term institutions and workers in these places; immunocompromised people from 12 years old; indigenous, riverside and quilombola people from 12 years old.

Vaccination takes place in mobile and fixed health units, starting at 7 am and ending at 7 pm.

Around 10 am this Monday, about 30 elderly people lined up at the UBS (Basic Health Unit) Nossa Senhora do Brasil, in Bela Vista, a neighborhood belonging to the central region of the capital of São Paulo.

Local employees made an effort to quickly assist people, who waited about 20 minutes to receive the sting, as the nurses on duty said.

Adelina Lima, 80, was waiting patiently. A resident of Bela Vista, she went there accompanied by a caregiver. “I waited a long time for this dose, which will be my fifth. I stayed tuned to the news to be here as soon as possible”, she said.

Behind her, the line kept growing. Amélia Duarte, 76, complained about the heat while checking if she had her RG, vaccination card and proof of address, necessary to receive the vaccination booster.

“I’m always anxious before I come. When I arrive, it seems to get worse. I always get ready to take a beautiful picture receiving the needle”, she declared laughing.

Amélia was accompanied by her husband, Paulo Duarte, 67. He intended to take advantage of his presence at the health unit to sign up for the vaccine xepa, a possibility opened in the municipal network for people over 60 years old to receive the dose if there is leftover at the end of the day .

To enroll in xepa, just go to a unit where the bivalent vaccine is being applied, carrying your ID, vaccination card and proof of residence, in addition to keeping an eye on the phone between 6 pm and 7 pm.

In the second phase of the national campaign, scheduled to start on March 6, seniors aged 60 to 69 should be vaccinated and then, from March 20, pregnant and postpartum women.

Health workers should start being immunized on April 17th. On the same date, immunization is scheduled for people with permanent disabilities (over 12 years old), prisoners, adolescents serving socio-educational measures and employees of the system of deprivation of liberty.