Less than 22% of the eligible target audience was vaccinated against influenza in Brazil

Under the goal of immunizing 75 million people, the Ministry of Health reported that, practically a month after the start of the application of flu vaccination doses, only 21% of Brazilians indicated as a priority public received the vaccination, which accounts for approximately 14 million people immunized.

According to data from the Ministry, the states with the lowest vaccination rates are Bahia, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rio de Janeiro and the Federal District, not exceeding 17% of the public eligible to receive the dose .

Vaccination campaigns were advanced

The Ministry of Health opted for an advance in the vaccination calendars, which usually only occur in the period between April and May, due to the increase in the circulation of viruses that cause respiratory diseases, starting the campaigns, therefore, on March 25th, with the start even earlier, in municipalities where the doses arrived earlier.

The target audience

The Unified Health System (SUS) made children aged 6 months under 6 years a priority for immunization; indigenous children from 6 months to under 9 years old; healthcare workers; pregnant women; postpartum women; teachers; Indian people; elderly people over 60 years old; homeless people; professionals from security, rescue and armed forces forces; citizens with chronic non-communicable diseases and other clinical conditions; disabled people; truck drivers; public transport workers; port workers; employees of the deprivation of liberty system; people deprived of liberty, and young people between 12 and 21 who are under socio-educational measures.

Vaccination campaign

A joint effort was held this Saturday (20), under campaigns carried out in several municipalities, with the aim of encouraging citizens to be immunized against the flu.

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_{Vaccination in the elderly (Photo: reproduction/Tim Boyle/Getty Images Embed)}

The city of Belo Horizonte (MG) entered into a partnership with a pharmacy chain. In the strategy, the vaccine is made available in parks and squares in different regions of the city, during the weekend.

Salvador (BA), in turn, has the second consecutive Saturday with health units open until 4 pm, so that the population can be vaccinated, however, only 10% of the priority public received the dose.

States such as Ceará and Mato Grosso also keep health units open until 4:30 pm to administer doses of the flu vaccine.

For those who wish to avoid waiting, the vaccine is also administered in private clinics throughout Brazil.

Featured photo: vaccination campaigns (reproduction/Ed Us/Unsplash)