Influenza: Paraná launches the vaccination for all persons over 6 months of age

The Paraná government has announced the recommendation to expand the supply of influenza vaccine to all persons over the age of six months. The procedure should start on Monday (15th) and follow the recommendation of the Ministry of Health. The initiative seeks to expand vaccination coverage for practically all age groups.

This indication usually occurs after the end of the National Influenza Vaccination Campaign, with the aim of ensuring greater coverage. Some municipal councils were already making doses available to all audiences, as part of their immunization strategy.

We cannot underestimate the importance of the vaccine, let alone neglect it, which is shown every day to be the main protection strategy against viruses. It is necessary to strengthen this process, the Minister of State for Health, Beto Brito commented, strengthening immunization until it reaches the arm of all the people of Paraná.

According to data from the National Immunization Scale, Paraná has vaccinated 1,409,816 people so far, which is just over 32% of the campaign’s target population (elderly and other priority groups), of 4,387,469. . Now, with the new expansion, it is expected to expand vaccination coverage, which has a set target of 90%.

Today, the state ranks fourth in terms of the absolute number of applications, after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul.

Influenza vaccines are trivalent vaccines, produced by the Butantan Institute and distributed to the entire public health network. The composition of the vaccine changes each year, according to which strains of the virus are most prevalent currently. This year, according to guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), the immune system consists of the H1N1 strain (Sydney), the H3N2 (Darwin), and the B strain (Victoria).

The vaccine is available in all 399 municipalities of Paraná and must be requested by residents at health units or vaccination sites.

Editing room by Tim Londrina with AEN