The Ministry of Health began on Monday, 7, the National Flu Vaccination Campaign. The folder acquired 73.6 million doses of the vaccine and has the goal of immunizing 90% of priority group members.
The vaccination campaign will be divided into two stages: in the first semester, immunization will take place in the South, Southeast, Midwest and Northeast; In the second semester, vaccination will be held in the northern region, during the so -called “Amazonian winter”, the period of largest circulation of the virus. There is no expected date for the end of the action.
The immunizer is able to avoid between 60% and 70% of serious cases and deaths, and is also offered in the private network. Here’s those who can be vaccinated at Basic Health Units (UBSS), what are the adverse effects and what is the value of the dose on clinics and pharmacies.
Who can get the vaccine at the health post?
The priority group is formed by children from 6 months to children under 6, pregnant and elderly from 60 years, due to the greater vulnerability of these groups to complications resulting from influenza virus infection.
In addition to them, the campaign’s target audience includes:
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– Health workers
– Puerperes
– Teachers of the basic and superior teachings
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– Indigenous
– homeless people
– Professionals from the security and rescue forces
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– Armed Forces professionals;
– People with noncommunicable chronic diseases and other special clinical conditions (regardless of age)
– People with permanent disabilities
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– truck drivers;
– Collective road transport workers (urban and long course)
– Port Workers
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– employees of the deprivation system
– Private population of liberty, as well as adolescents and young people under socio -educational measures (between 12 and 21 years)
Are there restrictions?
There are no restrictions on the application of the immunizer. The only exception, according to Monica Levi, president of the Brazilian Society of Immunization (SBIM), is for people with anaphylactic allergy to any of the components of the formula.
Can the flu be a serious disease?
“Flu is a disease that kills thousands of people every year. A characteristic of flu is the mutation of viruses. You may have the flu to be born until the time it dies. It can happen until twice in the same year. It is not a disease that gives a definitive immunity, so for so many cases every year,” says Monica.
In addition to deaths, influenza can cause a number of complications, according to the doctor. Numerous studies show the increased risk of cardiovascular complications such as infarction and stroke (stroke) as well as pulmonary problems. The flu also decompenses base diseases. “In a person who has controlled diabetes and has the infection, the chronic disease can get irregular again,” he says.
Is it true that the flu vaccine can cause the disease?
No. According to Rosana Richtmann, infectologist and vaccine consultant at DASA, it is impossible for the vaccine to cause the disease from the biological point of view. “The vaccine is made with the dead, inactivated virus.”
“But, as at the same time we get the vaccine there are other respiratory viruses in circulation, such as metapneumovirus is not uncommon for temporal coincidence, having an influenza vaccine and eventually having some other infection by another respiratory virus,” he adds.
Does the vaccine cause adverse effects?
The vaccine can cause some adverse effects, such as pain, redness and discomfort at the application site. Symptoms usually last between 24h and 48h. Systemic events such as headache, body pain or some kind of discomfort are much less common, says Rosana.
Is it really necessary to get vaccinated every year?
Yes. “Considering that viruses mutate and that we can take flu more than once a year, it is important to vaccinate annually, according to the update of the strains by the World Health Organization (WHO),” points out Monica.
She warns that many people often leave vaccination for the end of the year -between September and November -when they prepare to travel to the northern hemisphere, where it is winter during this period.
“The protection of the vaccine lasts, on average, six months. And you are not receiving an annual reinforcement, you are receiving the vaccine of the year (with the updated strains). Therefore, who immunized in the second semester of last year should take the new dose now – it is not necessary to complete a year. The ideal is to vaccinate before the increase in circulation of viruses, and this increase has started. guides Monica.
Is the vaccine of the post the same found in the private network?
No. There are three immunizers available in the Brazilian market: Trivalent, Quadrivalent and Efluilda. The ministry offers the trivalent vaccine, which protects against influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and influenza B virus.
Monica, however, states that the two versions almost have no practical differences. “Yamagata has disappeared from the map. Since 2020 it has not been detected. At this time, there are no differences in terms of scope between the trivalent and quadrivalent vaccine,” he explains.
Already Eflduelda is intended exclusively for the elderly public. “It’s a high dosage vaccine. People over 60 are more vulnerable to more serious infections and need better protection. So they have developed a specific vaccine for this audience, to give a more robust protection,” says Rosana.
What is the price of the dose on the private network?
In private clinics, trivalent and quadrivalent vaccines cost between $ 100 and $ 150. Efluilda’s dose is around $ 300.