SES-RJ calls on people from Rio de Janeiro to take advantage of the National Multivaccination Campaign, until the 31st of this month, to vaccinate children; target of 95% vaccination predicted by the PNI has not been achieved since 2016, in RJ
The 95% vaccination target set by the National Immunization Program (PNI) has not been achieved since 2016, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. A generation almost 40 years old, which has not seen the effects of infantile paralysis, is at risk of being surprised by the appearance of possible cases.
World Polio Day celebrated this Friday (24) is an important date for the population of Rio de Janeiro, given the low vaccination rates in recent years, to become aware that not vaccinating against polio could put at risk a reality that has been happening since 1987, when the last case of the disease was recorded in the state.
Due to this concern, the State Department of Health (SES-RJ) appeals to the people of Rio de Janeiro to take advantage of the National Multivaccination Campaign, until the 31st of this month, to vaccinate children who have not received the vaccine against the disease.
“The polio vaccine launched the character ‘Zé Gotinha’, known in Brazil and around the world for his fight against the disease. With the support of this friendly and representative figure for the SUS, we managed to defeat polio, but we need to maintain high vaccination coverage, preventing the return of this serious disease”, stated the Secretary of State for Health, Claudia Mello. “Although we are still far from the necessary 95% coverage, the good news is that we have increased the rates in recent years”, added the secretary.
Claudia Mello also informed that the campaign also offers all the vaccines scheduled in the national calendar and that one of the main points is the rescue of children and adolescents with delayed doses.
In the case of polio, the objective of SES-RJ is to cover vaccination schedules for children under 5 years of age with doses of injectable polio vaccine (VIP), which in 2024 will replace the oral polio vaccine. “We have been working to expand vaccination coverage, not only against polio, but also against other diseases. In addition to the multi-vaccination campaign, we have worked to support municipalities throughout the year. This effort has been bringing good results, but we need the support of society”, said the Immunization Manager at SES-RJ, Keli Magno.
The vaccine must be administered in a total of four doses: at 2, 4 and 6 months and a booster dose at 15 months.
The SES-RJ Epidemiological Surveillance coordinator, Cristina Giordano, warns the population to always be aware of the need to keep vaccinations up to date. “It is important to be vaccinated and vigilant to prevent the disease from returning, due to the fact that the virus still circulates in other countries. A person can come into contact with the virus while traveling abroad and, as they are not vaccinated, this opens the door to becoming infected and contracting the disease, in addition to serving as a source of infection for new cases here in Brazil. Vaccination is the only way to prevent polio.”
*With information from Agência Brasil
Published by Nícolas Robert
