Ministry of Health replaces the polio vaccine by injection, starting in 2024 | The National Gazette

The traditional eyedrop, which is given to children as a polio booster, will give way to a vaccine with inactivated virus. The injectable version will also be given at 15 months of age. Children will no longer have to take a booster dose at the age of four. according to Ministry of Healthchange, which will be gradual, represents technical progress.

“It is a change in the 21st century that the World Health Organization has indicated as the vaccine that still offers more safety and is very important at the moment,” explains Minister of Health, Nisia Trindade.

On a visit to the Brazilian Pediatric Association, in Rio, the Minister of Health also announced the release of R$150 million for states and municipalities to ramp up vaccination of children under 15 years of age. By the end of 2023, each state will have its own multiple immunization campaign calendar.

To update vaccination records for children and adolescents across the country, the Ministry of Health says it will use different strategies, with procedures that will take into account each municipality’s profile.

We provide an index that ranks municipalities according to their greatest vulnerabilities in terms of unvaccinated people. We presented this to the states so that they can focus the strategy on these most vulnerable municipalities,” explains Director of the Immunization Department at the Ministry of Health, Idir Ghati.

“It could be measures involving schools, extending service hours. This is always seen in accordance with the biggest problems identified at each site to expand vaccination,” says Necia.

In 2022, 77% of children will receive the first polio vaccine in Brazil. The goal was to vaccinate 95% of the target audience. The northern region is the most dangerous, with the risk of polio and measles returning. Therefore, the regional campaign has already begun in Amazonas and Acre. The next state in the region will be Amapá, with D-day scheduled for July 15th.

In Rio de Janeiro, Thomas, just six days old, received his first dose of protection.

“Do not be afraid, it is very important. Bring your children, they will certainly thank us in the future, ”says business manager Raphael Farah.