Semsa reinforces active search for vaccination against yellow fever after confirmed cases of the disease in Amazonas

Manaus/AM – The Municipal Health Department (Semsa) reinforces the active search for people not immunized against yellow fever after confirming cases of the disease in the municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, in Amazonas, and in the state of Roraima. The action meets the recommendation of the Ministry of Health.

Unvaccinated people can look for one of the more than 170 vaccination rooms in the Primary Care Network to receive the vaccine.

Semsa’s Immunization Manager, Isabel Hernandes, recalls that the yellow fever vaccine is part of the basic vaccination schedule for children aged 9 months to under 5 years, with a booster dose at 4 years, and is recommended for the entire population. unvaccinated from 5 to 59 years of age, in a single dose.

“These people who have never received the vaccine can go to any Semsa immunization point, simply presenting an identity document and SUS card”, advises the manager. The complete list of vaccination rooms, with addresses and opening hours, is available on the website semsa.manaus.am.gov.br, or directly at the link https://bit.ly/SalasVacinaManaus.

Isabel points out that vaccination is recommended for the entire population and, in particular, for those who live in riverside and rural areas, as well as people who live or work close to forested regions of the municipality.

Cases and surveillance

The strategy of intensifying surveillance and immunization actions aims to prevent outbreaks of yellow fever, which has had four confirmed cases in Brazil in the last six months, one in Roraima, one in Amazonas and two in São Paulo. Among these cases, three died, including a 63-year-old man, last February, who had Presidente Figueiredo as the likely site of infection. Still in Roraima, a case imported from British Guiana was detected.

Vaccination of pregnant women is also contraindicated, according to the immunization manager, and must be evaluated by a doctor if traveling to risk areas. Breastfeeding women who are vaccinated must suspend breastfeeding of babies under 6 months of age for 28 days.

In conjunction with immunization, Semsa’s surveillance actions are being intensified, with reinforcement of health teams for compulsory notification of cases and prompt communication/notification of suspicious events.