Pernambuco receives first batch of vaccines against Covid-19, with XBB1.5 updates

The State of Pernambuco receives, this Friday (10/05), a batch with 103,600 doses of the monovalent vaccine against Covid-19 from the pharmaceutical company Moderna, with the XBB1.5 update. The vaccine became part of the national vaccination after being approved by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA).

The vaccine is indicated for active prevention against Covid-19 in children from 6 months of age. The Pernambuco State Immunization Program (PEI-PE) awaits guidance from the Ministry of Health (MS) regarding the target audience, as well as the dose schedules to be implemented.

XBB 1.5 is a subvariant of the Ômicron strain, which is currently dominant in the world. This mutation has already been identified in several countries and is currently the one most likely to evade the immune system, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The symptoms presented by the variant are sore throat, runny nose, muscle pain, cough and headache.

For the coordinator of the State Immunization Program, Magda Costa, the new update is very important as a reinforcement scheme for the immune system, which acts directly on this variant. “The vaccines already applied are effective and protect against the most serious forms of infection. However, updating these immunizers is essential, as the strains undergo constant variations,” she explained.

For Pernambuco’s health secretary, Zilda Cavalcanti, today another important step was taken towards the immunization of the Pernambuco population. “Strengthening vaccination coverage is essential to avoid and minimize serious health conditions related to the viruses that are circulating, especially during this period”, she pointed out.