Health Ministry extends age for receiving dengue vaccine
Dengue vaccines that are close to their expiration dates may be administered to people outside the age range stipulated for Brazil’s national health care network, or SUS—10 through 14 years of age—and may be relocated to municipalities not yet covered by the vaccination.
The recommendation can be found in a technical note for all Brazilian states and the Federal District published Friday (Feb. 14), aimed at ensuring that all jabs purchased reach the people, increasing protection against the disease.
Now, doses with a two-month expiry date can be reallocated to municipalities that have not yet been vaccinated against dengue or can be applied to an extended age group, including people aged six through 16.
For jabs that have reached their one-month expiry date, the strategy can be expanded up to the age limit specified on the vaccine’s package leaflet—from four years to 59 years, 11 months, and 29 days of age.
Expansion
Also according to the Ministry of Health, the expansion of the target public must take into account the availability of doses and the epidemiological situation in each state and municipality. In addition, the ministry must be duly informed by the states on the implementation of the expansion strategy.
All doses administered must be recorded in order to guarantee the second dose and complete monitoring of the immunization process.
To complete the vaccination scheme, two doses of the inoculation must be taken.
In 2024, 6.5 million doses of the dengue vaccine were sent to states and municipalities, but only 3.8 million were administered. The situation is even more alarming among adolescents. Approximately 1.3 million young people who started the vaccination have not returned for the second dose.
The ministry recommends that states and municipalities intensify active search strategies, identifying and mobilizing those who have not yet completed the vaccination schedule.
Vaccine
Brazil was the first nation in the world to offer the inoculation in its public system. Vaccination in the country began in February 2024 in 315 municipalities and has since been expanded, currently reaching 1,921 municipalities, as per official figures.
In 2024, the dengue vaccine was incorporated into SUS for people aged 10 to 14 living in priority locations.
