Health

Brazil to start administering bivalent COVID-19 shot

For the first time, no deaths from the disease were reported in 24h

Luciano Nascimento

Published on 13/02/2023 - 13:28

- Updated on 13/02/2023 - 13:28

São Luís

Vacinação de adultos contra covid-19 na Unidade Básica de Saúde - UBS Brás. — © Rovena Rosa/Agência Brasil

Brazil is beginning to administer a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine on February 27. The move was included in the 2023 national vaccination schedule disclosed by the Health Ministry. The bivalent booster doses will be first given to people at higher risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19, such as elders over 60 and people with disabilities.

Data released by the National Council of Health Secretaries on Sunday evening (Feb. 12) show that, for the first time, the country has gone 24 hours without a death from the disease.

According to the council, in the 24-hour period 298 new cases of COVID-19 were registered. The moving average of the last seven days was 45 deaths and 9,126 new daily cases of the disease.

Since the pandemic began, in March 2020, 36,932,830 cases of the disease have been reported, along with a death toll of 697,674. The incidence and mortality rates stand at 17,575 COVID-19 cases and 332 deaths for every 100 thousand people.