Vaccination against flu starts on Monday in São Paulo – 05/04/2023 – Health

The Municipal Secretary of Health of São Paulo announced this Wednesday (5) the start of the vaccination campaign against the influenza virus, which causes the flu, next Monday (10).

According to the folder, the 1,489,000 doses allocated by the Ministry of Health to the municipality will be applied in two stages in priority groups until May 31, with the second phase starting from the 17th.

The campaign’s target audience, defined by the National Immunization Program (PNI), is estimated at 5 million people in the capital and is made up of:

• children aged 6 months to under 6 years old (5 years, 11 months and 29 days)
• pregnant women
• postpartum women
• indigenous
• health workers
• individuals aged 60 years or older
• public and private school teachers
• people with non-communicable chronic diseases and other special medical conditions
• permanently disabled people
• professionals from the security and rescue forces and the armed forces
• truckers
• urban and long-distance public road passenger transport workers
• port workers
• prison system officials
• adolescents and young people from 12 to 21 years of age under socio-educational measures
• population deprived of liberty

“With vaccinated people we managed to reduce the circulation of the virus in the municipality of São Paulo and, thus, guarantee the protection of the population, reducing hospitalizations and mortality due to the complications that can be caused by the flu”, said the municipal secretary of Health , Luiz Carlos Zamarco.

The vaccine will be 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 are 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.}