Brazil receives first batch of updated Covid vaccine; see campaign priority groups

Brazil received this Thursday, 2nd, the first batch of vaccine updated against Covid-19, with 1.25 million doses that will be used in this year’s national immunization campaign. Developed by the pharmaceutical company Modernthe doses are part of a total of 12.5 million acquired by the Ministry of Health in April after a legal imbroglio in the purchasing process that put Moderna and Pfizer in dispute. The impasse delayed the start of the campaign until May, originally scheduled to begin in March.

In a statement released by the ministry, the Secretary of Health and Environmental Surveillance, Ethel Maciel, highlighted that, although at lower levels compared to the peak of the pandemic, Covid-19 continues to cause deaths in Brazil, and is still a cause for concern. “Therefore, it is essential that the entire population, especially priority groups, seek immunization,” said the secretary.

Registered under the name of Spikevax monovalent, Moderna’s new vaccine was approved by National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) in December and its distinguishing feature is protection against the most recent variant of the disease, XBB 1.5. The doses will be destined for the National Immunization Program (PNI) and can be applied to babies from six months of age and children under five years of age.

In addition to these groups, the elderly, immunosuppressed people, people with comorbidities or permanent disabilities, pregnant and postpartum women, indigenous people, riverside dwellers and quilombolas, people deprived of liberty and health workers are also included in this year’s national vaccination campaign. The amount purchased by the ministry, however, will not be enough to offer a booster dose to everyone in the priority groups. O Estadão asked the ministry which subgroup will have preference, but the ministry only informed that it is in the process of regularly purchasing another 70 million doses.

For children, the Ministry of Health’s recommendation is to apply the first dose of the vaccine at six months of age, the second dose at seven months and the third dose at nine months. However, all children aged six months to under five years who are unvaccinated or have missed doses will be able to complete the three-dose schedule, following the recommended interval of four weeks between the first and second doses and eight weeks between the second and the third. In the case of adults, only one dose of the vaccine is recommended.

Delays and shortages

Scheduled to start in March, the covid-19 vaccination campaign was postponed due to delays in the process of purchasing vaccines against covid-19 by the Ministry of Health, causing shortages in several states in the country, as shown by the Estadão in a report published in April.

According to the Ministry of Health, the problem was caused by an impasse between the pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna, who were fighting in court over differences in the purchasing process. Experts, however, stated that the shortage of vaccines would also be related to the ministry’s lack of planning.

As a result, at least six states (out of ten that responded to the report’s questions in April) stated that there was a risk of vaccination being interrupted due to low stocks: Paraná, São Paulo, Santa Catarina, Rio de Janeiro, Maranhão and Tocantins.