Text: Marco Borba
Images: Fernanda Cazarini
In a kind of return to the recent past, when the Health Department of Osasco City Hall immunized thousands of families in drive-thrus during the covid-19 pandemic, on Saturday, 4/27, the action was resumed and hundreds of people over the age of six months who passed through the city hall parking lot were able to be vaccinated against Influenza (the virus that causes the flu).
Around 800 people made an appointment throughout the week by calling 156, but Health made another thousand extra doses available to ensure that those who did not do so and went to the drive-thru, on foot or in a motor vehicle, could also get vaccinated.
The action took place between 10 am and 4 pm and was closely monitored by Mayor Rogério Lins and other health professionals in the municipality. The kids were also able to have fun and take photos with children’s characters, including Minnie and Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Mário and Luigi.
The Epidemiological Surveillance nurse, Domânica Veneziana, explained the importance of vaccination. “The vaccine helps our body create adequate protection to respond to the action of the virus. Without it, the person can have much more severe symptoms (especially elderly people and people with comorbidities),” she said.
The couple Hermindo Berlini, 87 years old, and Nilza Tavares de Toledo, 77, residents of a condominium in Industrial Autonomistas, central region, made the appointment as soon as they found out about the action. “It is essential to get vaccinated. My husband has had pneumonia twice in recent years because he got vaccinated late. So, my advice is: if there is a vaccine and the vaccination schedule has been opened, the person has to go and take it straight away, whatever the type of immunization, to avoid diseases”, he advises.
Housewife Fernanda Zachi said she also tries to keep her family’s vaccination schedule up to date. She went through the drive-thru and took her son Vinícius Zachi, 7 years old. “We need to get vaccinated to protect ourselves, whether we are children, teenagers, adults or elderly people. With this, we help protect others, such as people with autoimmune diseases (which can be affected by even more serious symptoms)”.
The children who visited the site to get vaccinated received a “Certificate of Courage” from health professionals, with an image of “Zé Gotinha” printed on it.
The Influenza vaccine is available in Basic Health Units (UBSs), from Monday to Friday, for people over 6 months of age.
