Low adherence to the flu vaccine is a concern, warns BH Municipal Health Department

Belo Horizonte City Hall expanded the target audience for the flu vaccination campaign, in accordance with the recommendation of the Ministry of Health. With the guidance, anyone who has not yet been vaccinated against the disease, over the age of six months, can be immunized at health centers in the capital. The agency is concerned about the increase in cases of the disease even before winter arrives and wants to increase vaccination coverage.

Paulo Roberto Correia, director of health promotion and epidemiological surveillance at Municipal Health Department, says that the 152 health centers have vaccination rooms open for flu vaccination. Furthermore, with the partnership with Droga Clara, there are more than 25 vaccination sites.

“We are also trying to partner with other places to improve access for the population. The priority public must still continue to be vaccinated, because what they really need at this moment is to receive the vaccine so that they are protected. But other people who are not in the priority group can also look for the units to get the vaccine”, she explains.

For those over six months of age, an identification document must be presented with the vaccine card in order to, in addition to taking the flu vaccine, update any other overdue vaccines. “We are now living in a period of transmission of respiratory viruses, including the influenza virus, which causes the flu. Analyzing the national scenario, the Ministry advised that vaccination be expanded to the entire public, to also protect people against the circulation of the influenza virus. Remembering that this is the period of greatest transmission and can even lead to hospitalization and death from influenza”, he warns.

The low adherence to vaccines it also includes flu vaccination, which concerns health authorities. “At this moment, we are unable to reach the entire priority audience, which are pregnant women, women who have recently given birth, children aged six months to five years, people over 60 years of age, also those with comorbidities, health and education workers , which is a priority audience. For this public, in general, we have not yet managed to achieve the expected vaccination coverage, which is 90%”, he highlights.

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