With Covid vaccine missing, Saúde buys 750,000 doses of Coronavac

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The Ministry of Health announced this Friday (6) the purchase of 750,000 new doses of the Coronavac vaccine, produced by the Butatan Institute. The acquisition, made through a contractual amendment, occurs amid the lack of immunizers against Covid-19 for children aged six months to 11 years.

In addition to this purchase, the ministry said that a new amendment should be signed in the coming days to guarantee a total of 2.6 million vaccines from the São Paulo institute.

The ministry’s new Secretary of Health and Environment Surveillance, Ethel Maciel, had already stated, this Friday, that she intends to anticipate the vaccine supply contract with Pfizer and resume Coronavac purchases.

According to the ministry, the first doses of Coronavac should be delivered in the coming weeks. They will be distributed in all states and in the Federal District for the vaccination of children from 3 to 11 years old.

In the city of Rio de Janeiro, vaccination of young people and adults against Covid was suspended due to lack of doses. According to the municipal secretary of Health, Daniel Soranz, the low stock was due to a lack of shipments from the Ministry of Health in recent months and a greater demand at the end of the year.

Immunization in the Fluminense capital should be resumed next Monday (9), according to the prefecture.

This week, the Ministry of Health began to recommend a booster dose of Pfizer’s vaccine against Covid for children aged 5 to 11 years. Until then, the folder indicated the third application only from 12 years.

According to the technical note, the recommendation is due to the reduction of the immune response to vaccines and the circulation of new variants in a scenario where the vaccine coverage considered adequate for children has not yet been reached.

“The folder continues in negotiations with the laboratories to guarantee more immunizations for children as soon as possible”, said the ministry.

There is no shortage of vaccines for adults, according to the secretary of Health and Environment Surveillance. However, there is still no certainty that there will be an indication of another booster dose for all ages. Such as Sheet showed, vaccination for risk groups will enter the annual calendar.

Responsible for the recent increase in cases in the United States, a new variant of the coronavirus has already arrived in Brazil.

The first case was identified last Wednesday (4), but it is likely that XBB.1.5 is already circulating across the country, according to specialists. She was considered the most transmissible so far by the WHO (World Health Organization).

XBB.1.5 is spreading rapidly, particularly in places where fourth dose (or second booster) vaccination coverage is low.

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