Brazil has low adherence to the flu vaccine

A few days before the end of the vaccination campaign against the Influenza virus, Brazil has less than 40% of the vaccinated target population. In April, the Ministry of Health announced the expectation that, at the end of the campaign, there would be at least 90% membership of priority groups.

The result worries health professionals, considering that the arrival of winter brings an increase in flu cases and the worsening health of those who did not receive the vaccine. According to monitoring panel of the application of the vaccine in the national territory, until this Sunday (28) the country marks only 39.47% of vaccination coverage of the target population.

The infectologist Renato Kfouri reported to CNN that the possible justification for the low vaccination rate is the perspective of people in relation to Covid-19. Part of the population believes that there is no need to update vaccines that protect against virus mutations, as they consider that the pandemic has ended since the first vaccination campaign.

“We have a circulation of three practically simultaneous viruses in the country: the flu virus, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, which affects children more. So, vaccinating against the flu and Covid-19 is to protect a good part of these cases that are being hospitalized”, highlighted the infectologist.

In Brazil, the vaccine against the flu is manufactured by Butantan Institute and distributed in the public health network, from the Unified Health System (SUS) all over the country. In addition to the target population, on May 12th, the campaign was expanded to the general population, from 6 months of age.

Most critical and most advanced states

Of the states that achieved more than 50% of vaccination are Amapá (51.4%), Paraíba (66.7%) It is Pernambuco (52.5%), until now. Those with the lowest vaccination coverage are acre (18.9%) It is Roraima (23.3%). São Paulowhere most of the target population is located, has 35.2% membership.

_{Influenza Vaccine Monitoring Panel (Photo: Divulgation/Print – Ministry of Health)}

To the World Health Organization (WHO)the importance of protecting yourself each year is due to an update in the composition of the immunizer, according to the strains of the virus that circulate more constantly at the moment.

Cover Photo: Immunizer against the Influenza virus/Betânia Ramalho da Silva