3 minutes ago
By Matheus Mello, ContilNet
This month, the Acre State Department of Health decided to expand the age range of the target audience for dengue vaccination in the state, due to the low demand for the vaccine.
The dengue vaccine is another historic milestone for public health in Acre/Photo: Neto Lucena/Secom
In total, the state received more than 17 thousand doses. The campaign began on February 16, in 11 municipalities in Acre. However, the fact that the doses sent expire on April 30 worried health authorities who rushed to find a way to apply the doses before the expiration date.
Sesacre then decided to start the vaccination season for children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 years. In addition, people with comorbidities (diabetes, high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease), aged 20 to 59, were also able to get vaccinated.
SEE MORE: Government expands dengue vaccination to new age group and opens to public with comorbidities in Acre
With this, Acre was able to apply all available doses even before the vaccines expired. The information was confirmed to the ContilNet for the coordinator of the National Immunization Program, Renata Quiles, who gave details about the next shipments that should arrive in Acre.
Renata is coordinator of the PNI in Acre/Photo: Juan Diaz/ContilNet
“The doses we will receive are only for teenagers and there will be no release to the population because the validity is extended,” he said.
The vaccine
Qdenga is an immunizer developed by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, made with the attenuated dengue virus. This means that the vaccine contains the live virus, weakened in the laboratory, making it safe to use without causing illness.
The vaccination schedule consists of two doses with a three-month interval between applications. The Ministry of Health (MS) sent another 6,400 doses at the end of March, which were distributed among the other 11 municipalities that were not included in the first shipment.
