The Beginning of Flu Vaccination in Brazil.

On Monday, April 12th, the flu vaccination campaign in Brazil began and the Ministry of Health will distribute 80 million doses of the trivalent influenza vaccine, produced by the Butantan Institute, to immunize a target audience of 79.7 million people. The investment in the acquisition of doses was R$1.2 billion. The campaign runs until July 9.

INFLUENZA AND COVID-19 VACCINES

As two vaccination campaigns will be carried out simultaneously this year (Flu and Covid-19), the guidance of the Ministry of Health is that vaccination against Covid-19 be prioritized in priority groups.

As a result, the target population for influenza vaccination who has not yet received doses against Covid-19 should first receive the Covid-19 vaccine and schedule the application of the influenza vaccine, respecting a minimum interval of 14 days between them.

The action of immunization against the flu is extremely important for the protection of the groups most vulnerable to complications and deaths resulting from the disease. Therefore, it must be maintained, despite all the challenges facing the circulation of Covid-19.

SAFETY

The vaccination against influenza will be carried out in more than 50 thousand posts spread across the country. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health has released measures to guarantee safe immunization to states and municipalities, reinforcing the adoption of health care such as wearing masks, respecting social distance and hand hygiene.

IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT

Not having the vaccination booklet in hand is not an impediment to taking the vaccines offered in any vaccination campaign of the Ministry of Health. The tip is to look for the reference health units so that the health professionals locate the person’s record or history in the National Immunization Program System (SIPNI).

The population that has not yet been pre-registered with SIPNI or a health unit of the Unified Health System (SUS) can present any document that proves they belong to the groups at risk of the flu vaccination campaign, such as exams, prescriptions, medical report, prescriptions etc.

More information about influenza vaccination can be found here.

André de Castro
Ministry of Health
+55 (61) 3315-3580 / 2351

By Josi Donelli/Thenews2