IN MATO GROSSO – Influenza vaccination is expanded to all people over six months old

Ana Lazarini | SES-MT

Starting this Thursday (02.05), everyone over six months of age will be able to receive the flu vaccine in Mato Grosso. The State Department of Health (SES-MT) was notified by the Ministry of Health about the decision to expand the target audience for vaccination against Influenza throughout Brazil.

Mato Grosso has already received 884 thousand doses of vaccine against Influenza and the forecast is that the State will still receive 416 thousand doses from the Ministry of Health. The superintendent of Health Surveillance at SES, Alessandra Moraes, clarifies that, despite the increase in the public target, there is no expectation of an increase in the shipment of doses.

“It is important that managers understand that, even with the expansion of the public, there will be no increase in the number of doses sent by the Ministry of Health. Since the beginning of the campaign, the estimate is that Mato Grosso will receive a total of 1.3 million of doses against Influenza”, he pondered.

In this context, municipalities will have the autonomy to define strategies to expand the public, taking into account the available vaccine stock.

“In Mato Grosso, municipalities are authorized to carry out vaccinations for the entire public over six months of age. However, municipal administrations also have the autonomy to define the best strategy, depending on the number of doses in stock. It is important to emphasize that there is no forecast for new doses to be sent by the Ministry of Health”, explained Alessandra.

Influenza is an acute viral infection that affects the respiratory system and is highly transmissible. The influenza vaccination strategy was incorporated by the National Immunization Program (PNI) in 1999, with the purpose of reducing hospitalizations, complications and deaths in the target population.