The D-Day of the 2022 National Polio Vaccination Campaign takes place this Saturday (20), at approximately 40,000 vaccination posts throughout Brazil. The objective of the action is to increase the number of children immunized against polio, also known as infantile paralysis, since vaccination coverage is well below the expected 95% – about 11.5 million people.
The campaign began on August 8 and, since then, only 5% of the target audience has received the Oral Polio Vaccine (VOP), the famous “droplet”, according to data from the Ministry of Health. The states with the lowest vaccination rates are in the northern region of the country: Pará (1.51%), Roraima (1.42%) and Acre (0.92%).
São Paulo is slightly above the national average, having immunized 6.82% of children.
Although Brazil has not recorded cases of the disease since 1990, PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) points the country as being at high risk for the disease to return. Vaccination coverage has dropped in recent years. In 2021, for example, it was only 67%.
“It is urgent that we manage to recover our vaccination coverage, worldwide coverage fell in the pandemic period”, said Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga at the launch of the campaign.
Who should get the polio vaccine
All boys and girls from 1 year to under 5 years of age can go to the nearest health post to receive the drop. Babies under 1 year of age can also take any of the three doses of the Inactivated Poliomyelitis Vaccine (VIP), which is part of the basic vaccination schedule.
D-day will be this Saturday, but the campaign runs until September 9. Along with the action against poliomyelitis, the federal government intends to improve immunization coverage among children and adolescents under 15 years of age, through a multi-vaccination campaign.
At the health centers, vaccines will also be available for pentavalent, pneumococcal, meningococcal, VRH (Human Rotavirus Vaccine), triple and tetraviral, DTP (triple bacterial) and against HPV, yellow fever, chickenpox and hepatitis A and B. of vaccinations and the healthcare professional will check which ones are missing.
UNDERSTAND POLYOMYELITIS
What are the main symptoms and sequelae of polio? The most recognized sequel is limb paralysis, but the disease can also cause joint pain, osteoporosis, muscle atrophy, difficulty speaking, among others. Symptoms include body aches, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, neck stiffness and spasms.
Who can be vaccinated against polio through SUS? The Ministry of Health recommends vaccination in children aged between two months and four years. There are cases in which vaccination is recommended for people over five years of age, such as a trip to a country that is experiencing an outbreak of the disease and the vaccination schedule is not yet complete.
How many doses make up the polio vaccination schedule? In total, there are five applications, two of which are reinforcements:
- First dose: at two months
- Second dose: at four months
- Third dose: at six months
- First booster: at 15 months
- Second booster: at four years old
The first three doses are made with the injectable vaccine (Salk) and the last two with the droplet version (Sabin).
In addition to vaccination, are there other ways to prevent the disease? To avoid infection, it is also important to take care of basic hygiene and have an efficient basic sanitation system.
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