Secretary Carmen Zanotto requests the Ministry of Health to expand the priority group for flu vaccination in Santa Catarina

Photo: Ricardo Trida/Secom

The Secretary of State for Health of Santa Catarina, Carmen Zanotto, sent this Tuesday, 23, a letter to the secretary of health and environmental surveillance of the Ministry of Health (SVSA/MS), Ethel Leonor Noia Maciel, requesting the expansion of the priority group of children in the Flu Vaccination Campaign for those up to 12 years of age. Currently, according to the recommendation of the Ministry of Health, vaccination is only recommended for children aged 6 months to 5 years.

In the letter, Carmen Zanotto clarifies that this year there was an anticipation of the circulation of respiratory viruses in the state, such as influenza, and that, at this moment, the data indicate a tendency for an increase in cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SRAG), with SARS cases due to influenza already account for more than 10% of the total. According to the letter, “the analysis by age group shows that 40% of SARS caused by influenza occur among children aged 6 months to 12 years and 40% in elderly people over 60 years of age”.

The Secretary also highlights that “associated with this scenario, the analysis of the demand for neonatal ICU beds today (data available through the panel https://cieges.saude.sc.gov.br) shows an occupancy of more than 95 %, and of the eight health macro-regions, six have all their beds used. In relation to pediatric ICU beds, occupancy is currently 93%, with three macro-regions fully occupied”.

Thus, considering that the Flu Vaccination Campaign foresees the use of vaccines for application only to children aged 6 months to 5 years of age, the Secretary of State for Health of Santa Catarina, Carmen Zanotto, requested the expansion, “having in view of the seasonality period and the need to protect the groups that most require hospitalization, currently impacting bed occupancy in the state of Santa Catarina”.