Covid vaccine: who can take the 4th dose

The Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday (23) that Brazilians over 80 will be entitled to a fourth dose of the vaccine that protects against Covid-19.

The announcement comes after some cities and states had already anticipated and began to offer this additional application of the immunizer for the elderly.

The fourth dose was already guaranteed since December 2021 for individuals over 18 who have problems with the immune system.

The ministry estimates that 4.6 million Brazilians will be covered in this new stage of vaccination against the coronavirus.

Find out below who can take the fourth dose and how this campaign will be organized.

Why is it necessary to apply the fourth dose?

In the technical note that justifies the decision, the Ministry of Health argues that recent data on cases, hospitalizations and deaths from respiratory infections in the country indicate a “trend of loss of protection in properly vaccinated elderly”, with emphasis on “the age group above 80 years old”.

Also according to the document, this reduction in the effectiveness of vaccines after four or five months in the elderly can be partly explained by the process of immunosenescence, or the natural aging of the immune system.

In other words, this age group needs to be closely monitored and may require special vaccination schedules to ensure the best possible protection.

There is also concern about the spread of more transmissible variants of the coronavirus. This is the case, for example, of the ômicron, which caused a new increase in Covid cases in several parts of the world (including Brazil).

The ministry also highlights a survey carried out in Israel, in which a five-fold increase in antibodies was observed after the fourth dose of the vaccine.

This country even offers a second booster of the immunizer for all people over 60 since January 2022.

Chile is another nation that also adopts the fourth dose for the entire population over 55 years of age.

Who can take the fourth dose of the Covid vaccine?

So far, the application of the fourth dose is restricted to two groups: individuals over 18 years of age with compromised immune systems and, now, elderly people over 80 years of age.

When is it possible to take the fourth dose?

The new application of immunizing must happen with a minimum interval of four months in relation to the third dose.

In other words, individuals who took the third dose before November 24th are ready to receive the booster from now on.

Those who were vaccinated after that date must wait the minimum period of four months recommended by public health authorities.

It is worth noting that these recommendations vary from place to place. It may be that cities or states adopt specific schemes or even contemplate other age groups below 80 years, depending on the availability of doses and the guidance of local health committees.

Therefore, keep an eye on the vaccination schedules in your municipality and ask any questions at the health center closest to your home to know exactly when you, or a close contact, can receive the fourth dose.

Can you get the flu and Covid vaccine on the same day?

Yes. According to the guidance of the Ministry of Health, vaccines against Covid-19 and against influenza can be applied simultaneously, in the same visit to the health post.

This information is particularly relevant at the moment, as the annual flu immunization campaign starts on April 4th and the elderly are one of the first groups to receive the dose that protects against the influenza virus.

To learn more about what flu vaccination will look like in 2022, read the article What the flu vaccination campaign will look like in 2022.

Which vaccine will be used as the fourth dose?

The Ministry of Health indicates that the Comirnaty vaccine, produced by Pfizer, is the first choice as the fourth dose.

If it is unavailable at the health post, it is also possible to use AstraZeneca or Janssen immunizers in this context.

CoronaVac, made by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac and Instituto Butantan, is not recommended as a booster dose in this specific age group, as some studies indicate that it elicits a less robust immune response in older individuals.