The city of Rio de Janeiro starts vaccinating people over 40 years old with the second booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccine this Tuesday (21). The Ministry of Health announced, on Monday (20), the expansion of the stage for this age group across the country. According to the folder, 8.9 million Brazilians between 40 and 49 years old are able to receive the immunizing agent.
In Rio de Janeiro, the news comes amid the increase in the positivity rate of Covid-19. Between the 15th and 21st of May, the index was 13%, which doubled to 26% between the 12th and 18th of this month of June.
On Monday afternoon, 146 people were hospitalized due to the coronavirus in the beds of the SUS Network, with 82% of them not having the complete vaccination schedule, according to estimates by the Municipal Health Department.
“This increase was already expected. Today, we are entering winter. So Covid and other respiratory diseases have this seasonality of winter, this increase. So it’s important that people get vaccinated to keep this comfortable scenario that we have today and we can get through the winter in a peaceful way “, said the municipal secretary of health, Rodrigo Prado.
Among the public aged between 40 and 49, the campaign’s new target, 318,000 people have their first booster dose overdue in the state capital. According to the Ministry of Health, more than 62 million (62,707,654) of people have their third dose and the additional one (for immunosuppressed patients) overdue, unable to receive the fourth dose.
“People have to understand that the booster shot is not an optional vaccine. It is part of the vaccination schedule to maintain this immunity. We know that over time the vaccine will decrease in efficiency, so it is important that this reinforcement is done to maintain safety”, reinforced the secretary.
According to the president of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (SBI), Alberto Chebabo, the demand for booster doses is low and worries.
“The second booster shot is a continuation of the schedule. There is a reduction in immunity after four months and, as we currently have a very large viral circulation, it is important that people get vaccinated to reduce contamination,” she said.
“Brazil has a vaccine reduction, including the first booster dose. This is even more important than the fourth dose, as it is a continuation. Increasing the coverage of the third dose is essential, especially for people at risk”, completes Chebabo.
According to the federal government, those who took the single dose of Janssen should also strengthen protection against the virus.
In a note, the folder states that “the last recommendation was for the application of a booster dose in people aged 18 years and over, two months after the first application. Now, those aged 18 or over must receive a second booster four months after the first booster”, says the document.
The statement also highlights that “those over the age of 40 need a third booster, which should be applied after a four-month interval of the second. In these cases, the recommendation is that AstraZeneca, Pfizer or Janssen vaccines be used”.
A survey carried out by the Agency CNN shows that 83.95% of the population received the first dose and 77.90% took the second dose. In relation to the third, also known as a booster dose, 45.41% received the immunizing agent and 2.54% took the fourth dose.
Source: CNN Brasil
