Influenza vaccination in São Paulo starts on Sunday (27)

The state of São Paulo will start the flu vaccination campaign next Sunday (27) with the immunization of the elderly over 80 years. On the same day, there will be a task force to apply the immunizer against Covid-19, according to Governor João Doria (PSDB).

The “vaccination Sunday”, baptized by the toucan team, will have 5,000 basic health units open in the 645 municipalities of the state, from 7 am to 7 pm.

The initiative aims to expand the immunization of children from 5 to 11 years of age, especially with regard to the second dose against Covid-19. According to the state government, 75% of children have already taken the first dose, but only 34% received both doses and completed the immunization, and about 800,000 children could have already received the second dose. A survey by the Seade Foundation pointed out that 34% of parents and guardians stated that they did not take their children to vaccinate due to lack of time.

“[No dia 27] We will mainly vaccinate children aged 5 to 11 years [contra a Covid-19]proceed with the fourth dose for people over 80, in addition to those who eventually missed their dose,” said Doria.

“On that same day, we will anticipate the start of vaccination against the flu, which is scheduled to begin throughout Brazil on April 4.”

According to Regiane de Paula, general coordinator of the State Immunization Program, the population over 80 will be able to receive, on the same day, doses against the flu and Covid-19.

“Vaccination Sunday is an opportunity for the whole family to take their dose. Municipalities will have special actions for the application of the second dose in absentees, in addition to expanding the vaccine coverage of the third and fourth dose of Covid-19”, said Paula.

In São Paulo, the flu vaccination campaign will continue on April 4, for the public over 60 years. Then, on May 2, children over 6 months and under 5 years of age can be vaccinated, as well as pregnant and postpartum women.

As of May 9, it will be the turn of the indigenous population, quilombola teachers, people with disabilities and people with comorbidities.

The immunization will be available, as of May 16, for public security professionals, truck drivers, port workers, the population deprived of liberty and adolescents and young people under socio-educational measures.

The expectation is that flu immunization will help prevent the emergence of complications resulting from the disease and even deaths, in addition to minimizing the burden of the disease, reducing symptoms in priority groups, which can be confused with the coronavirus.

Vaccination will also be a differential to avoid overloading health services.

The start of the flu vaccination campaign in Brazil, as the Ministry of Health reported, will be on April 4th. 80 million doses of influenza vaccine will be distributed throughout the country.

The campaign will take place in two stages. The first, which takes place from April 4 to May 2, will include seniors aged 60 and over and health workers. Other groups will receive the vaccine in the second stage, which will take place from May 3 to June 3.

D-day of national mobilization is scheduled for April 30th. The campaign is expected to end on June 3.

The trivalent influenza vaccine used by the SUS is produced by the Butantan Institute. It is composed of the H1N1, strain B and H3N2 viruses, of the Darwin subtype. This subtype was responsible for the off-season flu epidemic that hit São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and other states in late 2021 and early 2022.