Brazil is due to receive its first batch of pediatric vaccines against Covid in the early hours of this Thursday (13). 1.2 million doses of Pfizer immunizers are expected. Delivery must take place at Viracopos airport, in Campinas (SP).
Pfizer vaccines will be given to children ages 5 to 11. The doses are not the same as those used in adults. The manufacturer prepares them with a different concentration and, therefore, there are different guidelines for use (see below).
The distribution of doses to the states will follow the population criterion. The forecast is that children will begin to be immunized from Friday (14).
Immunization will begin with children with comorbidity, permanent disability, indigenous people and quilombolas. Next, the Ministry of Health recommends that children living with people in the risk group be vaccinated.
Next, there will be a scaling by age group, starting with the oldest. Vaccination will not be mandatory.
On Monday (10), the Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, announced the anticipation of 600,000 doses, increasing the number of pediatric doses to be delivered to Brazil in January to 4.3 million.
In February, Pfizer is expected to deliver another 7.2 million doses and, in March, 8.4 million immunizers.
The difference between vaccines for adults and children
One of the main differences between vaccines for children and those for adults is the color of the caps – while pediatric vaccines are orange, those for children over 12 are purple.
The objective is to facilitate identification by vaccination teams and by those responsible who will accompany the little ones at the health posts.
Another point is the dosage. While for those over 12 years old the Pfizer doses are 0.3 ml, for the younger ones the dosage is lower, 0.2 ml. For other adult-approved products such as Coronavac and AstraZeneca, the dose is 0.5 ml.
The interval between the first and second doses of the Pfizer product for children is 21 days. In the case of the product for over 12 years, the spacing is up to eight weeks.
In adults, according to Anvisa, the period is two to four weeks with Coronavac and four to 12 weeks with AstraZeneca. Regarding Janssen, the second dose should be applied two months after the first.
Storage time also changes. While for the elderly the immunizing agent can be kept in the fridge between 2ºC to 8ºC for just one month, for the little ones they are allowed up to ten weeks.
In addition, the children’s vaccine bottle contains ten doses, more than the version for over 12 years, whose bottle contains six doses.
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