SP will apply 5th dose against Covid in immunosuppressed people aged 60 and over

The state of São Paulo has made the fifth dose of the coronavirus vaccine available to immunosuppressed people aged 60 and over, as defined by the Ministry of Health.

The interval since the last dose is four months, as recommended by the folder.

Anyone who is undergoing chemotherapy, has had an organ or stem cell transplant, is living with HIV/AIDS or undergoing hemodialysis is considered immunosuppressed.

The campaign began last Monday (30), according to the press office of the Secretary of State for Health.

“The Secretary of State for Health reiterates the importance of completing the vaccination schedule to ensure protection against Covid-19, with at least two doses”, says a note from the folder.

An analysis made by Sheet with data from the Ministry of Health and the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), published on Saturday (28), points out that the fourth dose among the elderly has low adherence.

Coverage with this second booster is only 18% among Brazilians aged 80 and over, eligible since March throughout the national territory.

The increase in new cases and hospitalizations due to the coronavirus has alerted the authorities. Last Tuesday (31), the São Paulo government’s Covid-19 Contingency Committee recommended the return of the use of masks in closed places across the state in the face of the trend.

“This last week we had a 40% increase in hospitalizations in São Paulo, and 80% in transmissibility”, said doctor João Gabbardo, executive coordinator of the Scientific Committee of the state government.

“Fortunately, vaccination contributes to the increase in hospitalization not occurring in the same proportion. Therefore, it is just a recommendation”, adds the doctor.

São Paulo is the state that most vaccinates against the disease in Brazil and has about 87.8% of the population immunized with two doses. The municipalities of São Paulo have already applied more than 111 million doses of vaccine.