Natal has low demand for the dengue vaccine and only immunizes 19% of the target audience in more than a month of campaign | large northern river

Natal vaccinated, until this Tuesday (26), 19% of the target audience of the immunization campaign against dengue, which started on February 19th, more than a month ago. The data was detailed by the Municipal Health Department (SMS) at the request of the InterTV Cabugi and g1.

In this first phase of the campaign, the ministry intended to immunize 46,549 children and teenagers between 10 and 14 years of age, who are the target audience for this stage. Until this Tuesday, 9,058 had been vaccinated.

The vaccine is administered in two doses. The low demand worries the Department of Health, among other reasons, because the first batch of vaccines received expires at the end of April and can only be used for the first dose.

“The first batch that we received, of 18,806 doses, is to be used in the first dose for this public and is valid until the end of April. So, we are awaiting definitions from the Ministry of Health”, explained the head of the center of Christmas immunization, Veruska Ramos.

The SMS is waiting to understand and put together new strategies on what to do with the remaining vaccines. According to Veruska, the average has been less than 10 vaccinated per day in Natal.

To try to expand vaccination, the Natal Health Department plans to start an awareness campaign in public schools.

“We cannot take this vaccine outside the units, it is a recommendation from the Ministry of Health itself, that these vaccines can only be used within the health unit. But we can raise awareness, campaigns, so that parents seek this message to be given by the children themselves”, said Veruska.

In total, 60 rooms in the municipal public health network are offering the dengue vaccine in Natal.

How to know if you have dengue and if it is serious

The capital of Rio Grande do Norte was one of the 19 cities selected by the Ministry of Health to start the campaign. But in Rio Grande do Norte, the picture is not so different either.

As of this Tuesday, 20,432 doses (around 15%) had been administered to a target audience of 132,000 children and adolescents.