The Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, declared on Thursday night (23) that vaccination against Covid-19 for children aged 5 to 11 years will need a medical prescription and a “term of informed consent”. However, through Friday and today, according to the CNN Agency survey, no state has said it will adhere to the recommendation.
So far, 12 states have informed that they will not follow Queiroga’s indication: Paraíba, Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Ceara, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Maranhão, Espirito Santo, Pará, Acre and Paraná.
Another five said they will still decide: Rio Grande do Norte, Amazonas, Tocantins, Distrito Federal and Roraima. There are still 10 more states to answer.
See below for each state’s response:
São Paulo
There is no such requirement for vaccination strategies in SP.
Paraíba
The governor of Pernambuco, Paulo Câmara, tweeted that “as soon as Pfizer delivers the vaccines indicated for pediatric use, which is scheduled for next month, Pernambuco will start immunizing children between 5 and 11 years old. It will not be necessary to present a medical prescription”.
The company responded to CNN, in a new statement, that it expects to deliver vaccines to children as of January 2022.
As soon as Pfizer delivers the vaccines indicated for pediatric use, which is scheduled for next month, Pernambuco will start immunizing children between 5 and 11 years old. It will not be necessary to present a medical prescription.
– Paulo Câmara 40 (@ PauloCamara40) December 24, 2021
large northern river
It will still be discussed in the Technical Chamber.
Bahia
Bahia will not require a medical prescription as a mandatory element for the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years against Covid-19.
“The measure goes against the recommendation of the Ministry of Health as it is unreasonable, given that the safety of Pfizer’s vaccine was certified by the National Health Surveillance Agency and that the immunizing agent has already been applied to more than 7 million children worldwide” , says the secretary of Health of Bahia, Tereza Paim.
The head of the State Health Ministry also emphasizes that “we cannot demand that, at this time, with so many health problems, in the midst of a pandemic, H3N2 outbreaks, floods in some regions of Brazil, including our Bahia, children do not may have access to the immunobiological”, says Tereza Paim.
There are more than 1.3 million children between 5 and 11 years old in Bahia, the age group authorized to apply the vaccine. “Unfortunately, it is not yet available in Brazilian territory, but the expectation is that the National Immunization Program (PNI) will acquire it and make it available to the states in January 2022”, emphasizes the secretary.
The State Department of Health (SES) informs that when the application of the Pfizer vaccine in children aged 5 to 11 years is included in the National Immunization Program (PNI), as authorized by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), it will not be medical prescription and/or parental consent form required.
Ceará
The governor of Ceará published on Twitter that the state will vaccinate children against Covid-19, “just as many countries have been doing.”
I inform the people from Ceará that our state will vaccinate our children aged 5 to 11 against Covid, as has been done in several countries. We will always follow Science, respecting the serious work of Anvisa and the responsible position of Conass (National Council of Health Secretaries)
– Camilo Santana (@CamiloSantanaCE) December 24, 2021
Amazons
The State Department of Health (SES-AM) informs that it is awaiting the technical report from the Ministry of Health, the body responsible for immunization in the country.
Maranhão
The State Department of Health (SES) informs that when the application of the Pfizer vaccine in children aged 5 to 11 years is included in the National Immunization Program (PNI), as authorized by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), it will not be medical prescription or parental consent form required.
Tocantins
The Secretary of State for Health clarifies that there are debates on the subject, but that nothing has yet been decided by the Health Council or by the Bipartite-CIB Inter-Management Commission in Tocantins.
federal District
The Health Department reinforces that it follows the guidelines of the National Immunization Program of the Ministry of Health (PNI-MS). Thus, the Ministry awaits a Technical Note from the federal agency with these guidelines, along with a new batch of vaccine doses.
Holy Spirit
The ES Department of Health clarifies that, as soon as it can start vaccinating children, outpatient prescriptions will not be required. Further guidance will be published in Resolution CIB.
Roraima
The Health Department informs that the General Health Surveillance Coordination is evaluating the technical recommendations regarding the vaccination of children from 5 to 11 years old, and, as soon as it has the opinion, it will take a position on the matter.
For
Helder Barbalho, governor of Pará, also posted on Twitter that he will vaccinate children aged 5 to 11 against covid-19.
Pará will vaccinate children aged 5 to 11 against covid-19. The vaccine is safe, it’s been approved, and our children need to be immunized. We trust in science and we will continue to respect the work of Anvisa and the positioning of Conass. We need to keep saving lives!
— Helder Barbalho (@ Helderbarbalho) December 25, 2021
Paraná
Paraná will not require a prescription
The state defends the expansion of vaccination for the entire population, including the expectation that the MS will review the position
Acre
The government of Acre, through the Secretary of State for Health, published that it will follow the recommendation of the Ministry of Health (MS), offering vaccines for children between 5 and 12 years old.
But he also declared that he is still awaiting the release of the MS for the start of vaccination for this age group. In any case, the government informed that “a medical prescription will not be necessary, since it is a new vaccine, as well as those already existing in the annual calendar, in which parents always accompany their children”.
“Just take the child’s vaccine card to the health centers after release, which will be communicated in advance”, they said.
Minas Gerais
The State Department of Health of Minas Gerais (SES-MG) reported that, after analyzing technical documents from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), it will recommend the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years against covid-19, without any requirement of medical prescription, also in accordance with the guidance of the Technical Board of Advising on Immunization (CTAI).
SES-MG emphasizes that the entire immunization campaign so far is carried out without the need for a prescription and remains optional. In the case of minors, the only requirement is the monitoring of parents or guardians.
Santa Catarina
The state of Santa Catarina declared that it understands that it is ready to proceed with the vaccination process against Covid-19 in children as well, as soon as the doses for this age group are sent by the Ministry of Health
“We understand that it is urgent to immunize children against Covid-19. We also follow the position of the National Council of Health Secretaries (CONASS) and the National Council of Municipal Health Secretaries (CONASEMS) that the requirement for a medical prescription is not necessary”, reinforces the Secretary of State for Health, André Motta.
However, as it has been done since the beginning, the decision will pass by the Bipartite Inter-Management Commission (CIB), composed of representatives of the state and municipal management, so that there is a technical and strictly science-based analysis.
It is important to remember that the vaccine indicated for this age group already has a completed clinical study and approval from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) for its use.
Reference: CNN Brasil
