The national flu vaccination campaign only immunized 40.69% of the target audience. The mobilization – which began on April 10 – ends this Wednesday (31), but the Ministry of Health has published guidelines allowing states and municipalities to expand the schedule and continue vaccinations, until the exhaustion of the vaccine stocks.

“I want to call on everyone to unite behind our National Vaccination Movement, a movement of the Ministry of Health, states, municipalities and all of civil society. Science is back and we must regain public confidence in vaccines. This is a mission for all of us,” said the Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade, in a statement released to the press on Monday evening (29).

Severe cases

According to the Ministry of Health, vaccination helps prevent serious cases of the disease. The latest government data shows that 35.2 million doses have been administered, which reached 40.69% of the public consisting of groups of elderly people, children aged six months to five years, pregnant women, health professionals health, postpartum women and teachers, among others.

Amapá achieved the best coverage, reaching 85.2% of the target audience, and the only one to exceed 75%. Acre, with 19.3%, and Roraima, with 24.3%, were the only states to achieve coverage below 25%.

The city of Rio de Janeiro announced that it would extend vaccination beyond the 31st. Anyone over six months old can be vaccinated. In the city, the flu vaccine is available in 237 primary care units (family clinics and municipal health centers), Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.