Brazil concerned over low vaccination rates
Carla Domingues, coordinator of the Brazilian Health Ministry’s National Immunization Program, warned about the need for the all government levels to join efforts to raise awareness about the importance of vaccines.
During the 20th National Immunization Journey, in Rio de Janeiro, she pointed out that the country has seen a drop in the number of people vaccinating. Last year, she added, of the 14 doses making up the program, only the BCG vaccine, administered to newborns to prevent tuberculosis, met the 95 percent coverage target.
“We must not slack off and stop vaccinating our children. They are more vulnerable. When an agent starts circulating, they’re the ones most severely affected”, she said. “If we stop vaccinating, these diseases will become even more serious,” she went on to say.
Domingues further notes that, in the 70s, when the program was created, vaccination in Brazil became mandatory. A 1976 decree mandates that every citizen must vaccinate themselves as well as any minors they may hold guardianship of. “The law stipulated that only those reported to face contraindications could refrain from being vaccinated,” she explained.
Revamping services
Carla Domingues admitted, however, that public health services must be adapted to meet the needs of Brazilians’ new reality—where both men and women work full time, while most health care stations are open for very limited time from Monday to Friday. Among the solutions suggested by the Health Ministry to try to reach the population is more flexible opening and closing times at health care stations and partnerships with schools and universities, in addition to fighting fake news and anti-vaccination groups.
Measles
During the event in Rio, Domingues mentioned the status of measles in Brazil today. The illness had been eradicated, she said, but is threatening to return as coverage rates have been low. Recent data show that, 45 days after the campaign was launched this year, it had to be postponed until two weeks later in order to reach the 97 percent target among children aged one to five.
“Vaccination starts in childhood, when the immunological system is not protected,” she argued. “If I manage to eliminate the pathological agent in nature, I’d definitely be protecting the adult population,” she concluded.
