Curitiba Health reinforces the importance of the Covid vaccine for priority audiences

Since January 2024, the Covid vaccine has been available in Curitiba Health Units for priority audiences, as determined by the Ministry of Health for the entire country. Even with the registration of new cases of the disease, adherence among the population entitled to semi-annual or annual booster doses is still low.

From January to March 2024, 36.5 thousand doses of the anti-covid vaccine were administered in Curitiba, with the priority audience being 545.5 thousand people. The percentage vaccinated is just 6.7%. CLICK HERE and see who is part of the priority audience.

“It is necessary to remember that the Covid vaccine does not guarantee permanent immunity. Those most susceptible need booster doses and they are available in our units”, warns the municipal secretary of Health, Beatriz Battistella.

Proposing a reflection on how to combat Covid-19, the secretary revisits the situation experienced at the beginning of the pandemic, when there was still no vaccine available. In recent weeks, Curitiba has registered the same number of active Covid cases as in the most critical period, above 5 thousand.

“What makes the difference between the number of cases and the severity of the situation is the vaccine, which was administered in our city with all the necessary doses until 2022, as the virus continued to circulate and the majority of people sought to be immunized”, analyzes Beatriz.

But she highlights: “2022 is behind us and we need to keep our bodies protected. What protects our body and updates immunity is the vaccine, which may not completely prevent the disease, but protects against the severe form, hospitalizations and deaths”, she reinforces.

“If you are part of the most vulnerable groups, who are prioritized to receive another layer of protection against Covid, get vaccinated. And parents, take your children to be immunized against the disease, to ensure up-to-date protection. Whoever loves, gets vaccinated”, concludes the Secretary of Health.

Saúde Já Curitiba application

On the Saúde Já Curitiba App, you can check your Covid-19 vaccination history, and, if you fit into a priority group, you can look for your reference health unit to apply the dose. The addresses of the units can be found on the Imuniza Já Curitiba website.

Anyone from Curitiba who has doubts about whether they are entitled to a booster dose of the Covid vaccine can call Central Saúde Já, on 3350-9000. The center is open from Monday to Friday, from 7am to 10pm; on Saturdays and Sundays, from 8am to 8pm.

Priority audience for semi-annual booster dose of the anti-covid vaccine

• People aged 60 and over
• Pregnant and postpartum women (mothers who had a child up to 45 days ago)
• Immunocompromised aged five years or older

Priority audience for annual booster dose of the anti-covid vaccine

• Health workers
• Homeless people
• People with comorbidities aged five years or older
• People with permanent disabilities aged five years or more
• Indigenous people, riverside dwellers, quilombolas aged five or more
• Residents and employees of long-term care institutions
• People deprived of liberty, young people serving socio-educational measures and employees of the system of people deprived of liberty

Primary scheme

People who do not belong to the priority groups and who have not completed the primary vaccination schedule with two doses can still seek out a Health Unit to be vaccinated, according to the recommendation of the Ministry of Health.

Children

In 2024, anti-covid vaccination was included in the Basic Child Vaccination Calendar, recommended for children aged 6 months to under 5 years.

The basic vaccination schedule for this age group currently consists of three doses of the Covid vaccine, with an interval of 28 days between the first and second dose and an interval of 56 days between the second and third dose.