Health

Vaccination campaign against influenza is extended until June 1

05/25/2012

 


Brasília - The Ministry of Health extended until June 1 to the National Vaccination Campaign against influenza. Immunization opened on Sept. 5 and was scheduled to end tomorrow (25). Until this morning (24), 15.8 million people were vaccinated, representing only 52.4% of the audience.

The government's goal is to immunize 24.1 million people over 60 years, children between 6 months and younger than 2 years, pregnant women, health workers and indigenous people, comprising 80% of the target audience.

The best compliance with the campaign at the moment, is among children, with a coverage rate of 59.4% (2.6 million). Further, it appears 1.3 million health workers (54.3%), more than 10.7 million elderly (52%), slightly more than 1 million women (47.5%) and 586 600 Indians (40.4%).

The choice of priority groups is called a recommendation from the World Health Organization (WHO). Priority is given people more susceptible to the exacerbation of respiratory diseases. According to the ministry, the vaccinating priority groups, breaks the chain of transmission to the general population.

The folder stressed that the dose - offered for free on 34 000 health centers across the country - is safe and protects against three more viruses that circulated in the Southern Hemisphere in 2011 - including the H1N1 Influenza.

The ministry said studies show that influenza vaccination can reduce from 32% to 45% the number of hospitalizations for pneumonia and between 39% and 75% overall mortality. Among residents in nursing homes, vaccination reduces the risk of pneumonia by about 60%, and the overall risk of hospitalization and death, 50% to 68%, respectively.



Source: News Agency

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