Vaccination of 3 and 4 year olds against Covid starts with low demand in SP

The first day of vaccination against Covid-19 for children aged 3 and 4 with comorbidities, permanent disabilities and indigenous people in the city of São Paulo had little movement in the UBS (Basic Health Unit).

Since the morning of this Wednesday (20), the report covered several immunization points in the capital of São Paulo. According to the Municipal Health Department, the total public of the new range is about 15 thousand people.

At UBS Boracea, located in Bom Retiro (central region), no 3 and 4-year-old children had been immunized until early afternoon. At UBS Santa Cecília – Dr. Humberto Pascale, also at the center, only one received the vaccine.

Officials also stated that, due to problems with the internet, the unit was also not registering children aged 3 and 4 years for the xepa of the Covid vaccine, which officially started this Wednesday in the city.

The report was also at UBSs Humaitá, Cambuci (both in the center), Dr. Oswaldo Marasca Júnior (south zone), Vila Romana (west zone) and AMA/UBS Integrada Água Rasa (east zone). In all, employees reported that the search for the vaccine was low throughout the day.

For pediatrician Mônica Levi, director of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations (SBIm), the low adherence is due to lack of communication.

“I am sure that parents in this age group do not know about vaccination because communication with the population is very poor. It is essential to encourage vaccination. People need to have the knowledge and understand the importance of [da vacina]”, says Levi.

The pediatrician says that there is no preventive medicine against Covid-19 for this age group. “The only non-pharmacological tool we have is the vaccine. For immunodeficient individuals at any age, the immune response is not so high”, she says.

Last Friday (15), the Ministry of Health recommended the application of Coronavac in this age group. Two days earlier, the emergency use of this immunizing agent for children aged 3 to 5 years was approved by Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency).

As São Paulo does not have enough doses to apply to the entire population aged 3 and 4, for the time being it is only allowed for children with comorbidities, permanent disabilities or indigenous people.

For the doctor, there is proof of the effectiveness of the immunizer against serious cases and deaths by Covid-19. “The sooner you vaccinate, the better. The vast majority of hospitalized Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, ICU cases and deaths are unvaccinated,” she says.

The vaccine also protects against pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome (SIM-P), a serious complication in children, and long-term Covid.

The vaccination schedule indicated by Anvisa is the same as for the rest of the population: same dosage and 28-day interval between the first and second dose.

At the time of vaccination, those responsible must present an identification document —preferably with CPF — of the minor, proof of risk condition, such as prescriptions or physical or digital reports, provided that the patient’s identification, CRM with the doctor’s stamp and within the validity of two years.

In addition to protection against Covid-19, parents can take the opportunity to vaccinate children against other diseases.

Also from this Wednesday, children aged 3 and 4 years without comorbidities or disabilities can be enrolled in the UBS to receive the remaining doses, the so-called xepa. Enrollment must be made at the child’s referral unit, close to home or school.

Parents or guardians must present proof of address and telephone number for the summons.

According to the Municipal Health Department, until 18:00 this Wednesday (20), 418 doses were applied to the eligible public of 3 and 4 years of age.

In relation to UBS Humberto Pascale, the secretary says that the registration in the list of remaining doses is carried out manually and that the service worked normally on Wednesday.