Ponta Grossa records an increase in vaccination coverage in the first quarter of this year

Several vaccines have coverage rates above 100%, but many still have low efficacy

More than half of the municipality’s population has been immunized against the new variants of Covid-19. Photo: Luiz Zak

Vaccination coverage increased by approximately 30% in the municipality in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. The data are from the Ministry of Health. Most campaigns achieved rates above 100% of the expected target in relation to those vaccinated, which is around 80%. In the municipality’s health centers, the demand for vaccines is constant.

The resident of Ponta Grossa, Milena Batista, 32 years old, took her daughter who is just over a year old to take her period doses at the São José station. For her, who shows concern and affection for her daughter, vaccination is essential. “You have to get vaccinated to ensure you don’t get diseases. It’s a matter of responsibility.”

At the same station, Saskia Margraf displayed her son’s vaccination record, who just turned four years old and all his vaccinations are up to date. “You can’t waver. You need to strictly follow the calendar to ensure you don’t have illnesses that could be fatal,” she said.

Below target

Despite the positive balance in most campaigns, there is still vaccination coverage below the target. According to Maria Helena Rodrigues, an attendant at a health center in Ponta Grossa, the search for vaccines has been constant, but there are cases that need attention.

According to data from the Ministry of Health website, related to the vaccination schedule for children, vaccines planned for newborns are below the target expected in the municipality of Ponta Grossa. This is the case of BCG vaccines, which must be administered at birth and protects against tuberculosis, and against Hepatitis B, which must be administered within 30 days of life. The BCG vaccine was administered to just over 64% of the target population, while the Hepatitis B vaccine had an 89% coverage rate.

Another vaccine that has not yet reached the target is the vaccine against Meningitis C, which must be administered within the first year of life. According to data from the Ministry of Health, just over 82% of the target audience was immunized in Ponta Grossa. Type C meningococcal meningitis is one of the most serious, and can be fatal, and is transmitted from person to person through the respiratory tract.

The worst situation is observed in the second dose of the MMR vaccine. While the first dose was applied to 156% of the target audience, the second reached only 36.31%. This vaccine prevents diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox, which can leave consequences and even be fatal in some cases. For effective protection against these diseases, the Ministry of Health clarifies that more than one dose is necessary.

Covid-19

According to the WHO, the Covid-19 pandemic is over. Even though the Covid-19 pandemic is over, the World Health Organization recommends that vaccination be carried out, as new variants may emerge.

According to the vaccinometer on the Ponta Grossa City Council website, more than 290,000 first doses against Covid-19 were administered, which indicates that around 81% of the population was immunized. However, there was a decrease for the other doses, with 9,779 people from Ponta Grossa receiving the third dose. For third dose boosters, the number is even lower, with around 1,500 doses applied.

In a note, Ponta Grossa City Hall reported that it is maintaining a continuous vaccination campaign for all immunizations. To this end, it makes vaccines available in more than 20 vaccination rooms at health centers in the neighborhoods and also on the vaccine bus. This has daily and occasional action on Saturdays. It is possible to update the vaccination record for children and adults at any of these locations.

Datasheet

Production: Eder Carlos
Editing and publishing: Eduarda Macedo, Gabriel Ribeiro and Karen Stinsky
Production supervision: Muriel Emidio Pessoa do Amaral
Publication supervision: Luiza Carolina dos Santos and Candida de Oliveira