Brazilians abandon the habit of getting vaccinated, and the government does not meet the target

With the elimination of smallpox in 1973, the military regime created the PNI – National Immunization Program. The country began vaccinating against tuberculosis, measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.

But vaccination coverage was poor. “The population did not get vaccinated, until in 1980 a major polio epidemic emerged in the south”, says Homma, from Bio-Manguinhos. After an appeal from Paraná, the Ministry of Health mobilized all ministries, public and private entities and called on society for national vaccination days.

“It was a party,” says Homma. “In one day, we vaccinated 18 million children. Each year, coverage increased until we eliminated polio.” The last recorded case was in 1988. “This result led to the coverage of other vaccines, achieving excellent results until the 2000s.”

But, without us realizing it, the pride in the vaccine was lost…
Isabella Ballalai, from SBIm

Coverage fell even further during the pandemic. “During the health crisis, people didn’t leave their homes, and even children’s vaccinations were delayed”, recalls Ballalai.