The Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, said that he considered progress in the application of booster doses against Covid-19 essential. However, he declared that the decision on the application of the fourth dose of vaccines must be accompanied by scientific evidence.
“This anxiety in wanting to apply this fourth dose without scientific evidence also does not help to face the pandemic. It is essential to advance in the booster dose. I have said and I repeat. The Technical Committee that supports Secovid (Extraordinary Secretariat to Combat Covid-19) is analyzing all these issues. When there is enough scientific evidence, the technical group will guide”, said Queiroga.
The minister also said that the ministry “has no commitment to distribute vaccine doses that are in disagreement with the decision in the technical area”.
On Wednesday (9), the Ministry of Health recommended the booster dose to immunocompromised adolescents. The guidance, which includes young people between the ages of 12 and 17 who fit into this priority group, was published in a technical note.
The ministry’s guidance is that the primary vaccination schedule for this group is done with three doses – first, second and the additional dose – with an interval of eight weeks between them. Upon completion of this regimen, a booster dose is still recommended four months after the third dose (or additional dose).
The same guideline has been in effect since December for the adult population, over 18 years of age, with a high degree of immunosuppression.
São Paulo will apply fourth dose
The governor of São Paulo, João Doria (PSDB), said in an interview on Wednesday (9) that the state will adopt the fourth dose of the vaccine against Covid-19 “regardless of whether or not there is a recommendation from the Ministry of Health. Health”.
According to the executive coordinator of the Scientific Committee of Covid-19, João Gabbardo, the start date for the application of the fourth dose can be set this Thursday (10), at a meeting of the State Immunization Program.
(With information from Bruna Macedo and Fábio Munhoz, from CNN)
Source: CNN Brasil
