The Minister of Health, Marcelo Queiroga, said this Wednesday (9) that the priority of the federal government is the booster dose of the vaccine against Covid-19 and criticized the interference of governors and mayors in the discussion on the application of the fourth dose. of the immunizer.
The statement was given after Governor João Doria (PSDB) announced that São Paulo will adopt the fourth dose against the coronavirus. He said that this is under study, but did not give a date for starting the vaccination schedule.
Queiroga said that there is still no definition in the Ministry of Health on the subject and that the technical area is still evaluating the need to expand vaccination. The minister said he did not talk to Doria on the subject.
“We already know this matter, don’t we? The governor of São Paulo and other heads of executives, whether state or municipal, often interfere in the decision-making process regarding immunization”, he said in an interview after a meeting with the president of the Chamber. , Arthur Lira (PP-AL).
He defended that the debate on the fourth dose should be restricted to the federal sphere. “These issues must be discussed within the scope of the Ministry of Health, which is leading this process, especially because it is the one who has the obligation to guarantee Brazilians this right,” he said.
Queiroga said that the current priority is to “advance the booster dose”. “If we advance in the third dose, we will be more prepared to face the omicron variant”, he said.
He questioned how the logistical issue of distribution of doses by the federal government will be if the states decide to expand vaccination in disagreement with the Ministry of Health.
This Wednesday morning, Doria gave an interview to Eldorado radio in which he was assertive about the fourth dose.
“It is already confirmed by the scientific committee of the government of São Paulo. We are prepared to start the fourth booster dose”, said the governor to the radio.
Later, at a press conference, he was less categorical in addressing the subject. “The fact of considering does not mean that the application [da quarta dose] will be immediate or short term because it won’t,” he said.
Last Monday (7), the Ministry of Health said in a technical note that there is not enough data for the application of the fourth dose of the vaccine in the population.
The ministry’s recommendation is that the fourth dose continues to be applied only to immunocompromised patients, as has been the case since December last year.
“Before we move towards new indications in the PNO calendar [Plano Nacional de Operacionalizações]it is necessary to understand the epidemiological scenario in greater detail regarding hospitalizations, deaths and infections by Covid-19 among certain age groups and their relationship with vaccination status (vaccinated vs unvaccinated)”, says the technical note.
Health technicians and the PNI (National Immunization Program) should reassess on Friday (11) whether they indicate the application of a new dose against Covid-19.
Doria and Queiroga have exchanged criticisms in recent months.
In January, the minister accused the toucan of “making a stand” with the start of childhood vaccination. That day, Doria opened the national campaign to immunize the public from 5 to 11 years old with doses of Pfizer.
“Politician João Doria underestimates the population. He has the vaccines of the government of Brazil and the Brazilian people in his hands on the platform. He thinks this will take him out of the 3% [de intenção de voto]. Give up! Your marketing will not change the face of your management. Paulistas deserve someone better,” Queiroga wrote on Twitter.
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