The Ministry of Health released, on Tuesday night (31), the dates of vaccination campaigns against Covid, flu and other diseases in the year 2023.
Actions are planned between February and May, which include several priority groups, in addition to the immunization of children and adolescents with vaccines that are part of the calendar.
Covid reinforcement
As of February 27, the ministry will release the application of the updated booster dose against Pfizer’s Covid-19.
All those who have at least two previous doses and are part of one of the following groups may be vaccinated:
• Individuals over 60 years of age;
• Pregnant women and postpartum women;
• Immunocompromised patients;
• Disabled people;
• Residents of long-stay institutions;
• Indigenous, riverine and quilombola peoples;
• Health professionals.
The government bought 52 million doses which, according to the ministry, are enough to vaccinate all Brazilians in the above groups.
In March, the government will focus on efforts to complete the vaccination schedule for everyone over 12 against Covid-19, in addition to intensifying vaccination of children and adolescents.
For the latter group, mobilizations are planned in the school community, from kindergarten to high school, with two weeks of orientation and communication activities with students, parents and guardians.
Gripe
Vaccination of priority flu groups will begin in April for the following target audience:
• People over 60 years old;
• Adolescents in socio-educational measures;
• Truck drivers;
• Children from 6 months to 4 years old;
• Armed forces;
• Security and Rescue Forces;
• Pregnant women and postpartum women;
• Disabled people;
• People with comorbidities;
• Population deprived of liberty;
• Indigenous, riverine and quilombola peoples;
• Teachers and professors;
• Public transport professionals;
• Port professionals;
• Professionals from the Deprivation of Liberty System;
• Female and male health workers.
multivaccination
In May, it will be the turn of the multi-vaccination campaign against measles and polio in schools. As with the Covid-19 action, there will be guidance and mobilization activities.
“Brazil, considered a pioneering country in vaccination campaigns, has been showing setbacks in this field since 2016. Practically all vaccination coverage is below the target. Therefore, the objective is to resume the high percentages of protection”, says the Ministry of Health in a statement.
Polio vaccination coverage, for example, was below 75% in 2022.
“We have the largest immunization program in the world and we have always been an example. Communication, without a doubt, will be essential for us to regain confidence in immunizers”, adds the Secretary of Health and Environment Surveillance, Ethel Maciel, in a note.