Manaus City Hall will expand flu protection from this Monday (25th) to adults, teenagers and children over 6 months of age.
According to the Municipal Health Department, vaccination coverage until last Friday (22) was at 35.74%, below the target of 90% stipulated by the Ministry of Health three months ago, at the beginning of the campaign.
“Flu cases tend to increase during this rainy season, so gather your family members and go to the clinic closest to your home as soon as possible to ensure this protection. To receive the dose, just present your official identity document, CPF or SUS card, and vaccination card, if you have one”, said the Secretary of Health, Djalma Coelho.
Also according to Coelho, some health units operate with extended hours, staying open until 8 pm, from Monday to Friday, and on Saturdays, from 8 am to 12 pm.
Vaccination sites.
Vaccination in the city
According to the latest balance, 227,839 doses of flu vaccines have been administered in Manaus to date. Of the total, 145,928 were for children aged 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women, women who have recently given birth, the elderly and indigenous people.
“This total is equivalent to 35.74% coverage, that is, less than four in ten people in these groups were vaccinated. It is worrying, as they are the public most vulnerable to the disease, more likely to need hospitalization or even die, which is why they are priority groups”, said Isabel Hernandes, immunization manager at the Department of Health.
According to Hernandes, the vaccine is the main way to prevent infection with influenza A and B viruses. The disease can cause fever, sore throat, cough, body pain and headache, for example.
“The vaccine is trivalent influenza, which is safe and capable of preventing three strains of the virus. The vaccination schedule is a single dose for most people, except for children who are being immunized for the first time, who will receive two doses 30 days apart”, explains Hernandes.
*Published by Douglas Porto
