Indigenous vaccination period starts in Brazil

Brazil’s Health Ministry has set the goal of immunizing 180 thousand aboriginals against such diseases as hepatitis B, polio, disphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, meningitis, influenza and yellow fever.

The Indigenous Vaccination Month 2014 started on April 30 and goes on until May 29. The initiative targets children under five years old, women in fertile age, and elders.

According to the Health Ministry, over $2.24 million are being invested in the purchase of vaccines, logistics and transportation during the campaign.

Altogether, 149 thousand shots are expected to be administered in 34 Special Indigenous Sanitary Districts from 18 states. The campaign benefits indigenous individuals belonging to 305 ethnic groups from 1,144 settlements.

The action requires special logistics, as planning is done according to the characteristics of this population and also the necessary measures in the transport of professionals and equipment to the villages by car, boat, helicopter or plane.

In last year’s campaign 178,076 vaccines were administered to 134,931 aboriginals from 1,074 settlements. Immunization against influenza reached 81.80% of the population aging over six months, in the 34 indigenous districts.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira