The Ministry of Health included vaccination against Covid-19 in the National Immunization Program (PNI). As a result, the application will become mandatory in the vaccination booklet from 6 months to 5 years of age from 2024 onwards. The change was announced by the ministry this Tuesday (31). In case of non-compliance, there is a legal provision for fines and even loss of social benefits, such as Bolsa Família.
“When the vaccine starts to be incorporated into the calendar, as it is mandatory, there will be a need during school registration to check whether the vaccine is there”, stated the Secretary of Health and Environment Surveillance, Ethel Maciel. There are states, such as São Paulo, that make registration conditional on presenting a vaccination card for children under 18 years of age.
The vaccine will also be part of the annual calendar and will be administered to the priority group. This list includes people over 60 years of age, immunocompromised people, employees and people living in permanent institutions, indigenous people, riverside dwellers, quilombolas, people with permanent disabilities, health workers, pregnant and postpartum women and the population deprived of liberty.
The changes follow recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO). According to Maciel, the guidance is for people who are included in the priority group to look for vaccination centers to apply the bivalent dose, if they have not yet received the booster this year. The idea is that, just like the flu vaccine, the vaccine will be updated according to the strains that are circulating. “It is a disease that will be among us”, warned the secretary.
Covid wins
The Secretary of Health Surveillance also announced the carrying out of a study on the long-term consequences of those infected by the Covid virus. The idea is to interview 33,000 people from November this year to better understand the effects of the so-called long Covid.
According to Maciel, the first data should be announced by the end of the year and will provide “elements for the creation of public policies” aimed at these people. The study will be coordinated by researcher Pedro Hallal, professor at the Federal University of Pelotas.
The Ministry of Health included vaccination against Covid-19 in the National Immunization Program (PNI). As a result, the application will become mandatory in the vaccination booklet from 6 months to 5 years of age from 2024 onwards. The change was announced by the ministry this Tuesday (31). In case of non-compliance, there is a legal provision for fines and even loss of social benefits, such as Bolsa Família.
“When the vaccine starts to be incorporated into the calendar, as it is mandatory, there will be a need during school registration to check whether the vaccine is there”, stated the Secretary of Health and Environment Surveillance, Ethel Maciel. There are states, such as São Paulo, that make registration conditional on presenting a vaccination card for children under 18 years of age.
The vaccine will also be part of the annual calendar and will be administered to the priority group. This list includes people over 60 years of age, immunocompromised people, employees and people living in permanent institutions, indigenous people, riverside dwellers, quilombolas, people with permanent disabilities, health workers, pregnant and postpartum women and the population deprived of liberty.
The changes follow recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO). According to Maciel, the guidance is for people who are included in the priority group to look for vaccination centers to apply the bivalent dose, if they have not yet received the booster this year. The idea is that, just like the flu vaccine, the vaccine will be updated according to the strains that are circulating. “It is a disease that will be among us”, warned the secretary.
Covid wins
The Secretary of Health Surveillance also announced the carrying out of a study on the long-term consequences of those infected by the Covid virus. The idea is to interview 33,000 people from November this year to better understand the effects of the so-called long Covid.
According to Maciel, the first data should be announced by the end of the year and will provide “elements for the creation of public policies” aimed at these people. The study will be coordinated by researcher Pedro Hallal, professor at the Federal University of Pelotas.
