States adopt different strategies for vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 years; Look

States and the Federal District begin to organize for the arrival of doses of the Pfizer vaccine against Covid-19 for children aged 5 to 11 years. Despite recommendations from the Ministry of Health, different application strategies are adopted.

Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) authorized the application of the immunizer on December 16. Vaccination of children was incorporated into the National Operational Plan on January 5th.

The folder recommends that immunization begins with children with comorbidities, permanent disabilities, indigenous people and quilombolas. The four groups are guided by legal provisions.

Then come the children who live at home with people at high risk of the severe evolution of Covid. Next, there will be a scaling by age group, starting with the oldest.

The ministry itself says in a technical note that vaccination must begin with groups supported by the law.

Regarding the rest, each entity is responsible for the best local strategy, “protecting the principles of equity, universal access to health services” — that is, there is autonomy of states and municipalities to adopt different strategies.

Eight units of the federation say they will follow the guidelines of the Ministry of Health: Amapá, Amazonas, Federal District, Maranhão, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraíba, Piauí and Tocantins.

Tatyana Amorim, director-president of the Fundação de Vigilância em Saúde do Amazonas Dr. Rosemary Costa Pinto, says that the vaccination was planned to serve the pediatric population, which, despite not being the one that most develops serious disease when infected, is still configured as vulnerable to hospitalizations and deaths.

“Vaccination is not mandatory, but it is an act of love. Many people have lost children to Covid-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, and vaccination aims to reduce deaths and hospitalizations from the infection”, he said, in a note.

Most states will partly follow the ministry’s recommendations. Some, for example, do not intend to place children who live with people at serious risk of Covid in a priority group. Others will only work with immunization by age group.

According to the Health Department of Goiás, through a note, vaccination will only be given in descending order of age, that is, starting with children aged 11 and being gradually reduced.

“The ministry understands that it is the simplest way to be understood by the population and carried out by the municipalities. It is also more efficient, without the need for medical reports that prove, for example, a comorbidity”, he said.

States also plan locations to vaccinate children. The government of São Paulo said, in a statement, that at least 268 schools in nine municipalities in the state are available to serve as stations for vaccinating students.

In São Paulo, from the arrival of the doses, vaccination will begin with children with comorbidities. To prove the condition, they will need to present exams, prescriptions, medical report or prescription.

The Ministry of Health expects to receive 4.3 million doses by the end of January. The units will be distributed proportionally to states and the Federal District, responsible for the application of the immunizer.

The first flight with Pfizer vaccines is expected to arrive in Brazil at dawn this Thursday (13).

Only the Pfizer vaccine is approved for use in children. The request from the Butantan Institute for the release of the Coronavac vaccine in the public from 3 to 17 years is under analysis at Anvisa.

Understand how each unit of the federation organizes itself for childhood vaccination

Vaccination order recommended by the Ministry of Health

1. Children with comorbidities and children with permanent disabilities

2. Indigenous people and quilombolas

3. Children living in a home with people at high risk of severe Covid

4. Children without comorbidity in the following order: children between 10 and 11 years old; between 8 and 9 years; 6 and 7 years; and 5 years old

Strategies adopted by each state and in the DF

Acre

The Health Secretariat said only that strategies are being set up based on the quantity of doses to be sent by the Ministry of Health.

amapá

Vaccination will be staggered by priority groups defined by the Ministry of Health

amazon

It will follow the order of priority groups defined by the Ministry of Health

Bahia

The Health Department informed that it is up to the municipalities to define the logistics for the application of immunizations

Ceará

Vaccination will take place in descending order of age, that is, starting with children aged 11 and being gradually reduced. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian

federal District

The Secretary of Health said that it follows the guidelines of the National Immunization Program of the Ministry of Health.

Holy Spirit

The forecast is that the vaccination will start from the next 15th, prioritizing children with comorbidities

Goiás

Vaccination will take place in descending order of age, that is, starting with children aged 11 years and being gradually reduced.

maranhão

Vaccination will follow the scale of priority groups indicated by the Ministry of Health

Mato Grosso

The Health Department said that municipalities are responsible for administering the vaccine and developing strategies to reach the target audience.

Mato Grosso do Sul

The recommendations of the Ministry of Health for priority groups will be followed

Minas Gerais

Children with comorbidity or permanent disability, quilombolas and indigenous people will be vaccinated first. Then vaccination will take place in descending order of age. An official identification document of the child must be required

For

The Health Department informed that it is responsible for the distribution of doses, but the implementation of vaccination is the responsibility of the municipalities

Paraíba

The campaign will be staggered following the priority groups defined by the Ministry of Health

Paraná

The Health Department said that the vaccination strategy is up to the municipality

Pernambuco

Vaccination will begin with children with chronic neurological disease, with neurological development disorders — at the moment prioritizing girls and boys with Down syndrome and autism — and indigenous people.

Piauí

The scale of priority groups defined by the Ministry of Health will be used

Rio de Janeiro

The Health Department informed that vaccination should preferably be carried out in descending order from the oldest to the youngest, that is, starting at 11 years old until reaching 5 years old.

large northern river

The Health Department will prioritize children aged 5 to 11 with comorbidities or disabilities. However, care for other children will not be denied if there is demand. Municipalities must assemble the strategy according to the local reality

Rio Grande do Sul

Vaccination will begin for children with comorbidities. Then there will be the children without comorbidities in disbelieving order of age. The Health Department informed that indigenous and quilombola children will be vaccinated according to future guidance from the Ministry of Health.

Rondônia

The Health Department said that vaccination will be carried out in descending order, that is, children aged 11 and 10 years old first and so on until reaching five years old.

Roraima

The state says it will follow the guidance of the Ministry of Health to initially vaccinate children who have comorbidity or permanent disability, as well as indigenous people and quilombolas.

Santa Catarina

The Health Department informed that vaccination should be staggered, by age group, with priority for indigenous people, quilombolas and children with comorbidities.

São Paulo

Vaccination will be initiated by children with comorbidities. To prove the condition, they will need to present exams, prescriptions, medical report or prescription

Tocantins

The Department of Health reported that it follows the recommendations of the Ministry of Health.

alagoas e Sergipe They did not answer