With an explosion of Covid and flu cases, São Paulo’s UBSs open on Saturdays

Due to the explosion of cases of patients with flu symptoms, which fill the service network, the UBSs (Basic Health Units) in the city of São Paulo will open this Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm.

This Thursday (6), when the city hall decided to expand the operation of the UBSs, Luiz Antonio Vieira Caldeira, coordinator of the Health Surveillance, said that the day before, 53,000 people sought the municipal health network with flu cases. He said he believes the number is a record.

Since December 23, because of the pressure in emergencies, the UBSs began to assist people with respiratory problems, without the need for an appointment.

According to the Municipal Health Department, the capacity in health units is for patients suspected of having been infected by the ômicron variant of the new coronavirus or by the influenza virus.

Earlier this week, the leaf showed that the waiting list for care at the AMA (Ambulatory Medical Care) Sorocabana, in Lapa, in the west zone, was five hours. Private hospitals had similar queues.

Caldeira said that the demand for patients with flu symptoms today is similar to the peak of Covid, in March and April 2021. The difference, he said, is that now there are cases that do not need hospitalization and that drugs are prescribed for treatment.

Since Wednesday (5), the City of São Paulo has been doing double testing, for Covid and influenza, in people with flu symptoms who seek medical attention.

The idea is to make a more accurate panel to assess how the transmission of the two viruses is in the city and, mainly, the advancement of the ômicron. In a preliminary analysis, it was found that the new strain accounted for at least half of the prevalence of Covid-19 cases in the capital.

According to the secretary, a rapid antigen test for Covid will be done first. If the result, which comes out in 15 minutes, is positive, the RT-PCR test will be applied. If negative, you will be tested for influenza.

STAY TUNED

According to the Municipal Health Department, the flu syndrome is characterized by a person with an acute respiratory condition, with at least two of the following symptoms:

• fever
• chills
• sore throat
• headache
• cough
• coryza
• olfactory disorders
• taste disturbances

In addition to the care for patients with flu symptoms, the UBSs open this Saturday (8) for vaccination against Covid-19 and against the flu. According to the Health Ministry, it is possible to receive immunizations against both diseases on the same day.

This Sunday (9), vaccination will be carried out in seven parks and in two pharmacies on Avenida Paulista, in the central region.

According to the secretary, since last December 24, when influenza vaccination was resumed in the capital, 503,492 doses were applied.

The day before, on December 23, the city government received from the Butantan Institute the donation of 1 million doses of the immunizing agent against the H1N1 virus, which have little effect on the current epidemic, caused by Darwin, a variant of the H3N2 influenza. Even so, pediatrician Renato Kfouri, director of SBIm (Brazilian Society of Immunizations), says that those who did not receive the dose in the campaign held between April and August 2021 should take the vaccine.

The next flu vaccination campaign, already with an immunizer capable of protecting against the new influenza variant, is scheduled for the second quarter.

See where to get vaccinated on the weekend in the capital

Against Covid-19 and flu

Saturday (8)

UBSs (Units Health Basics)

from 8 am to 5 pm
see addresses

Integrated AMAS/UBSs

from 7 am to 7 pm
see addresses

Sunday (9)

pharmacies

from 8 am to 4 pm
Avenida Paulista 266 and 2371

Parks

• Center: Buenos Aires
• South: Guarapiranga
• East: Carmo Park
• West: Villa Lobos
• Southeast: Independence
• North: Youth

Source: Municipal Health Department