vaccines prevent hospitalizations and deaths

State health warns that immunization prevents hospitalizations of patients with respiratory diseases (Photos: Iron Braz)

Diseases such as dengue and influenza in Goiás have caused an increase in diagnoses and hospitalizations, with more deaths. Since the beginning of the year, more than 150 deaths from dengue have been recorded. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Srag) resulted in 179 deaths, mainly among children under 2 years old (16 deaths), and elderly people over 60 years old. Among the main causes may be low vaccination coverage for dengue and influenza.

The great concern of the Goiás State Department of Health (SES-GO), at the moment, is with the change in the seasonality of dengue fever and respiratory diseases, such as influenza, with climate change, which is already starting this month.

According to the Superintendent of Health Surveillance, Flúvia Amorim, Srag’s history shows an increase in cases during this period, when thermal inversions begin. “It is at this time that respiratory viruses begin to circulate more intensely,” she explains.

Health warns: vaccines prevent hospitalizations and deaths — Health alert: children and the elderly are the main victims of respiratory diseases (Photos: Iron Braz)

Main victims of respiratory diseases

Flúvia Amorim draws attention, mainly, to the extremes of the age groups, which are children and the elderly, the main victims of respiratory diseases. “For these people, the condition can be very serious. So, don’t forget to get vaccinated,” she advises.

“If you are part of any of the priority groups, quickly look for the vaccination center”, continues Flúvia, to remember that, although there is an influenza vaccine available in all vaccination centers in the 246 municipalities, only 20.82% of the public target group (priority groups) sought the immunizer.

Regarding Covid-19, vaccination coverage is at 20.82%. “The vaccine takes ten days to take effect. So, the faster you get vaccinated, the faster the person will be protected”, he warns.

Most effective way to prevent hospitalizations

The SES Superintendent of Regulation, Control and Evaluation, Amanda Limongi, also reinforces the importance of vaccination. “It is the most effective means of preventing hospitalizations, both for dengue fever and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndromes”, she states, confirming that the “meeting” of dengue cases and respiratory diseases has demanded more hospitalizations in Goiás.

She also appeals to the population of municipalities that still have dengue vaccines available. “Of the 246 municipalities in Goiás, 155 have ‘zeroed’ their stocks, but there are still 10,000 doses to be applied,” she explains.

The superintendent refers to the remainder of the 158,500 doses received from the Ministry of Health and which will expire on April 30, even with the increase in age to people from 4 to 59 years old. This expansion only applies to these batches of the immunizer. For the next one, the return of ages 10 to 14 has already been defined for the target audience.