The state of Paraná recommends expanding the flu vaccine supply to all people over six months of age. The measure, which should begin this Monday (5/15), follows the recommendation of the Technical Note No. 36/2023of the Ministry of Health.

The initiative aims to extend vaccination to the population of virtually all age groups.

This indication usually occurs after the end of the National Flu Vaccination Campaign, with the aim of ensuring greater coverage. Some town halls already made doses available to everyone, as part of their vaccination strategy.

“We cannot underestimate, let alone overlook, the importance of the vaccine, which every day turns out to be the main strategy for protection against viruses. It is necessary to strengthen this process, promoting vaccination so that it reaches the arm of all the inhabitants of Paraná”, commented the Secretary of State for Health, Beto Preto.

According to data from the national vaccinometer, Paraná has so far immunized 1,409,816 people, representing just over 32% of the campaign’s target population (elderly and other priority groups), of 4,387,469. . Now, with the new expansion, it is expected to expand vaccination coverage, which has a stated target of 90%.

Today, the state is fourth in absolute number of applications, behind only São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul.

Influenza vaccines are trivalent, produced by the Butantan Institute and distributed throughout the public health network. The composition of the vaccine changes every year, depending on which strains of the virus are currently circulating the most. This year, in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, the vaccine includes H1N1 (Sydney), H3N2 (Darwin) and B (Victoria) strains.

The vaccine is available in the 399 municipalities of Paraná and must be sought by the population in health units or vaccination sites.

this sesa