The Ministry of Health released on Wednesday (11) the new strategy for vaccination against Covid-19 . Among the main news, announced in a technical report, is the inclusion of the vaccine in the National Vaccination Calendar for pregnant women and the elderly (60 years or over).
Previously, these audiences were part of the so-called “special group” for vaccination, which receives a periodic dose of the vaccine. Now, they are included in routine vaccination. The guideline is that pregnant women should be immunized with one dose for each pregnancy. The elderly will receive a dose every six months.
Another novelty announced by the ministry is the start of offering the Zalika Farmacêutica vaccine in the National Immunization Program (PNI) and the vaccination schedule for children aged 6 months to under 5 years of age with three doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The new guidelines were sent to the health departments of all states, according to the Ministry.
Zalika Farmacêutica’s vaccine, called Serum, began to be distributed in Brazil for the first time in December and demonstrated safety and high efficacy against symptomatic cases of Covid-19 in adults, according to phase 3 studies. According to the ministry, the vaccine will be used in Brazil for people aged 12 or over, an age group approved by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa).
For children under 12 years of age, the Pfizer messenger RNA vaccine will be distributed. Children who start the course with this vaccine must receive three doses of the vaccine, with intervals of four weeks between the first and second dose; and eight weeks between the second and third dose.
Children who started the course with the Moderna vaccine must complete the two-dose schedule with this same vaccine, with an interval of four weeks between the first and second dose.
According to the director of the Department of the National Immunization Program (DPNI), Eder Gatti, this update of the strategy reflects the Ministry of Health’s commitment to protecting the population.
“The disease continues to cause loss of life in the Brazilian population, in addition to serious consequences such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome and post-Covid conditions. Therefore, it is essential that the eligible population keeps their vaccinations up to date”, concludes the director in a statement.
Vaccination of special groups
According to the Ministry of Health, vaccination of other special groups from 5 years of age will be carried out periodically in any vaccination room, every six months for immunocompromised people and every year for other groups:
- People living in long-term care institutions;
- Indigenous;
- Riverside;
- Quilombolas;
- Postpartum women;
- Health workers;
- People with permanent disabilities;
- People with comorbidities;
- Persons deprived of liberty;
- Employees of the deprivation of liberty system;
- Adolescents and young people complying with socio-educational measures;
- People living on the streets.
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This content was originally published in Covid-19: Ministry of Health updates vaccination strategy; see the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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