São Paulo expands child vaccination while capitals await doses against Covid

This Thursday (2) the city of São Paulo starts vaccinating all children from six months to under 3 years of age against Covid-19. The immunization will be done with doses of Pfizer Baby, vaccine from the manufacturer Pfizer indicated for the younger public.

Until then, the scheme for this age group in the capital was restricted to the priority group – with comorbidities, permanent physical disability, immunosuppressed and indigenous people.

From the same date, children aged 5 to 11 who have already received the first two doses will be able to take the booster.

On Tuesday (31), the city of São Paulo received 768,000 doses of immunizers against the coronavirus, between Pfizer Baby and Pediatric, by the National and State Immunization programs.

Meanwhile, other Brazilian capitals report shortages and suspension in the application of doses due to lack of immunizers for children.

In a note, the Ministry of Health said that it began distributing new doses of vaccines “to all states and the Federal District” this week. “The priority is to normalize the dose distribution flow and expand vaccine coverage to ensure the protection of the population”, says the statement.

In Rio de Janeiro, vaccination of children aged between six months and four years with comorbidities or disabilities remains suspended until the arrival of a new shipment from Pfizer Baby. The application of doses in children aged 3 and 4 years is available in some units, which can be consulted at https://coronavirus.rio/vacina.

In Belo Horizonte, there are no immunizers for the first dose for the 3 to 11 year age range. Already the second dose of Coronavac for those aged 3 and 4 is being applied normally.

In Salvador, there is shortage of doses of Pfizer Baby (first dose) and Pfizer Pediatric (first and second dose). Currently, the city hall is vaccinating with the first dose only children aged 3 and 4 years with and without comorbidities, in addition to the second dose for other ages.

In São Luís, the application of the first dose in children is temporarily suspended due to the lack of Pfizer Baby.

Aracaju also registers a shortage of children’s immunization for the first dose and Pfizer Pediatric.

In Recife, vaccination is released from six months of age. However, the capital of Pernambuco needed to suspend, just last year, vaccination between six months and 2 years due to lack of doses.

Last week, the application in children between 5 and 11 years old was also paralyzed.

In the South region, Porto Alegre is among the capitals that suffer from the shortage of doses. Without the Pediatric Pfizer, given to the range of 5 to 11 years, the city hall stopped vaccination for these ages. Children between 3 and 5 years old receive Coronavac.

As Pfizer Baby doses are also scarce, the city is only administering the vaccine to children with comorbidities from six months to less than 3 years.

Florianópolis is also without the vaccine for babies, as well as Curitiba, which usually applies the first dose to children from 3 years old. Already the second dose for babies can be carried out with scheduling in the paranaense capital.

In the Midwest, Goiânia does not have vaccines for the first dose of children aged six months to 11 years, only the second dose.

Campo Grande vaccine with the first dose only babies with comorbidities and children between 3 and 4 years old. Vaccination between 5 and 11 years old is suspended due to lack of vaccines.

In the North region, Manaus has no doses in stock or plans to receive Pfizer Pediatrics.

Belém suspended childhood vaccination due to the lack of immunizers. Both Pfizer Baby and Pediatric are missing. The remaining doses of Coronavac are being used for the second dose in the three to four year group. The prefecture hopes to resume vaccination for all groups from six months in February, as soon as they receive the vaccines.