Children up to 12 years of age have been allowed to receive the flu vaccine in Santa Catarina since Monday (29). The expansion of the age range, which previously covered children from six months to children under six years of age, was due to the anticipation of the circulation of respiratory viruses in the State and the increase in cases of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) due to influenza in children of this age. age group, informed the State Department of Health.
Nursing technician Renata Andrade administers the flu vaccine to Matheus, observed by his mother, Fabianne – Photo: Leo Munhoz/ND
According to data from the folder, 80% of hospitalizations for SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) due to influenza are in the age groups from zero to 12 years and over 60 years.
The Secretary of State for Health, Carmen Zanotto, advises that municipalities that still have vaccines available begin to include the new age group.
“Eighty percent of hospitalizations for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which are in our hospitals and admitted, both in the wards and in the ICUs, are children aged between zero and 12 years old”, he explains.
“We are advising to expand this range up to 12 years. With this, we will immunize our children more quickly and reduce hospital admissions”, reinforces the secretary.
It is worth highlighting that the application of the vaccine to people in other priority groups, such as the elderly, children from six months to under six years of age, pregnant women, women who have recently given birth, health professionals, primary and higher education teachers, indigenous populations, quilombolas, among others, has not been changed.
Low adherence to the flu vaccine
At the Abraão Basic Health Unit, in the continental region of Florianópolis, there has not yet been adherence to the new age group, according to the unit’s coordinator, Renata Schmidt Silvano.
“Our feeling is that the demand for the flu vaccine was much lower. Whenever there is an increase in the age range, as is the case now, demand is usually high, but this is not the case”, she laments.
Nursing technician Ana Cristina Linhares, who administers vaccines in the unit, adds that no children had appeared yesterday. Low adherence also occurred at the São José Basic Unit, in the Campinas neighborhood.
Nursing technician Renata Andrade reported that only eight children in the new age group took the flu vaccine. “We noticed that it’s not like it used to be, when there was a queue,” she says.
The mother of Matheus, 9 years old, Fabianne Willaim, a resident of the region, reveals that every year she makes a point of vaccinating him against the flu. “I don’t like catching the flu, sneezing,” says Matheus. Bravely, he received the flu vaccine without complaining and even said it didn’t even hurt.
The situation is different at the Trindade Health Center. The unit’s nursing technician, Fernanda Gressler, states that there was good demand for the vaccine. “As it was the first day, we didn’t have as much demand.
But, for example, children, especially those who already had the dengue vaccine a few days ago, are trying to get the flu vaccine because they saw that their age has increased. So, most of the children who came today, I don’t know if by coincidence or not, had already had the dengue test a few days ago”, reveals Fernanda.
Nursing technician at the unit, Fernanda Gressler – Photo: Leo Munhoz/NDThe recommended interval between doses of flu and dengue vaccines should be 24 hours for those who are also in the age range for the dengue vaccine, which is 10 to 14 years old.
Goal for vaccination
With the goal of vaccinating at least 90% of these people, which would be equivalent to just over 2.7 million of the target audience in Santa Catarina, those vaccinated in the State did not reach one million. According to the most recent data from the Ministry of Health panel, only 827,959 doses were administered, which corresponds to 31.01% of vaccination coverage.
The Flu Vaccination Campaign continues throughout the State until May 31st. According to the folder, the vaccine offered in the public health network prevents the main influenza viruses present in Brazil, which are influenza A (H1N1), influenza A (H3N2) and influenza B virus.
However, protection only occurs two to three weeks after applying the dose, which is why the State Department of Health warns of the importance of getting vaccinated as soon as possible to avoid serious cases, hospitalizations and deaths from flu.
People over 60 have higher vaccination coverage
People aged 60 and over continue to be highlighted. Out of a target audience of 1,184,393, they achieved vaccination coverage of 35.52%, with 420,704 doses applied. The indigenous population surpassed this percentage by reaching 43.48% of the 12,493 target, resulting in 5,432 doses applied.
The lowest coverage is concentrated on children (487,381), with 21.82%; pregnant women (73,650), with 19.40%; and postpartum women (12,107), with 17.87%. The municipalities that most adhered to the campaign were Joinville, with 53,155 doses applied; Florianópolis, with 51,475; Chapecó, with 35,179; São José, with 31,247; Criciúma, with 29,531; and Palhoça, with 19,779.
