Expanded flu vaccination for children up to 12 years old

The Itajaí Health Department expands the age range for vaccination against influenza. From Monday (29), children up to 12 years old will be able to be immunized against the disease in the city’s 31 health units with vaccination rooms. To be vaccinated, the target public must present an identity document, vaccination booklet and proof of priority group.

In addition to children aged 6 months to under 12 years of age, the following priority groups are also eligible for the vaccine: healthcare workers; pregnant women; postpartum women; primary and higher education teachers; Indian people; elderly people aged 60 and over; homeless people; security and rescue forces professionals; armed forces professionals; people with chronic non-communicable diseases; people with permanent disabilities; truck drivers; public road passenger transport workers; port workers; prison system employees and the population deprived of liberty.

The flu vaccine is safe, effective and protects against three subtypes of the most circulating virus at the moment: influenza A (H1N1); influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B. Furthermore, it also helps to avoid serious cases, hospitalizations and deaths.

The Health Department’s estimate is to vaccinate around 50,000 people from priority groups by the end of the campaign, on May 31st. To date, almost 19 thousand doses have been administered, with the elderly being the group that has received the most vaccinations.