With low adesão à vaccination, cenário is dangerous close to the winter period, says infectologist

Less than a week from the end of the period of vaccination against influenza, which ends on this fourth fair (31), the population gain to the immunizer is less than 40%. The goal announced by the Ministry of Health at the beginning of the campaign was to reach at least 90% vaccination coverage among priority groups.

In interview with CNN This Saturday (27), the infectologist Renato Kfouri alerted to the danger of the low-heat cenário near the winter period. “The cold increases the transmission and multiplication of the virus, people stay in more dated environments, creating conditions for greater circulation of the virus, and consequently more cases,” he said.

Secondly, the specialist, the explanation for the low addition of the flu vaccine is related to the situation experienced with Covid-19, in which fewer people will go to seek immunization based on the perception that the pandemic has ended. However, the Fiocruz bulletin shows that Covid-19 is still the main cause of hospitalization in adults due to respiratory disease.

“We have a circulation of three practically simultaneous viruses in the country: the flu virus, Covid-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, which affects children the most. So, vaccinating against the flu and Covid-19 is protecting most of the cases that are being hospitalized”, said the infectologist.

Renato Kfouri continues to reinforce the importance of annual vaccination against influenza for priority groups. “70% two deaths and serious cases of those who suffer from the flu occur in these groups that are the highest priority to take the vaccine, being the elderly, pregnant, children and individuals with comorbidities. Those of us can’t stop being vaccinated”.

“Although now that the vaccination is open to the entire population, everyone must be vaccinated, but it is easier to end these groups that normally only have many years, in a very constant way, suffered with the most serious forms of doença” , completeu.

The vaccine is made available free of charge by the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). The national flu vaccination campaign began on April 10.

The composition of the vaccine changes every year, according to the virus strains that circulate the most at the moment, reported in the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO). As the influenza virus undergoes constant mutations, it is important to take the updated vaccine every year to maintain protection.