More than a third of the elderly over 80 did not take reinforcement against Covid

With the announcement by the Ministry of Health about the fourth dose of the vaccine against Covid-19 for people over 80 years old, the SBGG (Brazilian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology) draws attention to a considerable portion of the elderly who have not yet received the booster of the third dose and, therefore, needs to be prioritized.

According to the latest data published by the Ministry of Health, the percentage of booster doses applied from the age of 60 varied from 48% to 71% until the end of last month. Among the elderly aged 80 and over, close to 36% (about 2.8 million) had not yet received a booster dose.

The risk of death from Covid was 18 times greater among unvaccinated elderly people, compared to those already immunized, during the wave caused by the ômicron variant in Brazil, according to an analysis carried out by the sheet from the crossing of official data from the Ministry of Health with population estimates from the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics).

The records of hospitalizations and deaths confirmed by the disease in the period from December to February were considered.

Another recent study by the Directorate of Epidemiological Surveillance of Santa Catarina shows that mortality from Covid among unvaccinated or who received only one dose is 33 times higher in the elderly and 19 times higher in adults, compared to people from the same groups who already took reinforcement.

The risk of hospitalization is 25 times higher in the elderly and 9 times higher in unimmunized adults. The survey took into account 1,675 deaths and 6,580 hospitalizations by Covid notified by municipalities in Santa Catarina between November 1, 2021 and February 28, 2022. Among the deaths in the period, 1,329 (79%) were of people without reinforcement.

According to geriatrician Ivete Berkenbrock, president of SBGG, the entity encourages the fourth dose of the vaccine for people over 80 and immunosuppressed, but has asked in its channels more attention to the elderly who have not yet received the third dose.

She says there are many regional disparities, with states already applying the fourth dose, while others are struggling to increase the percentage of those immunized with the third.

For her, the flu vaccination campaign can be an opportunity for the elderly to receive the missing doses of immunization against Covid.

The elderly are one of the first groups called upon to take the immunizing agent against the influenza virus. In the state of São Paulo, the campaign starts this Sunday (27). The Ministry of Health announced the start for April 4th.

According to the ministry’s guidance, vaccines against Covid-19 and influenza can be applied simultaneously, taking advantage of the same visit to the health post.

“This population that has not been vaccinated or has an incomplete vaccination schedule is vulnerable. So even with the relaxation of the use of masks, we recommend that the elderly continue to use them, especially in closed places”, says Berkenbrock.

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 of age”.

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.

Immunization against influenza will take place in two stages, according to the federal government’s schedule. The first, between April 4th and May 2nd, is aimed at the elderly over 60 and health workers. The second, as of May 3, will be open to other target audiences, such as pregnant women, children aged 6 months to 4 years and indigenous peoples.