Vaccination Calendar 2023: Check plans for COVID-19, influenza, polio and measles

The Ministry of Health released last Tuesday (31) the schedule of the 2023 National Vaccination Program. Campaigns will start from February 27th, with the application of bivalent vaccines against COVID-19 in people in the risk group, such as elderly people over 60 years old, pregnant women, people with disabilities and immunocompromised patients.

In addition to vaccination against COVID-19, the schedule also provides for the intensification of the influenza, polio and measles campaign. The objective of the Federal Government is to increase vaccination coverage, which in recent years has shown alarming rates.

Know more: Why is vaccination coverage falling and how can this scenario be reversed?

“We are facing a scenario of low coverage. Our population’s confidence in our vaccines has been attacked. It is essential to resume the vaccination routine to avoid epidemics of diseases, including those already under control”, highlighted Nísia Trindade, Minister of Health. See the full schedule below:

Step 1: COVID-19 vaccination (bivalent vaccine booster)

In this stage, which will begin in February, the estimate is to vaccinate 52 million people with the bivalent vaccine against COVID-19. The immunization is a upgraded booster in relation to vaccines previously applied and that protects against the original strain of coronavirus and against omicron subvariants as well. The target audience involves:

• People over 60 years old;

• Pregnant women and postpartum women;

• Immunocompromised patients;

• Disabled people;

• People living in Long Stay Institutions (ILP);

• Indigenous, riverside and quilombola peoples;

• Health workers and workers.

Step 2: Intensifying COVID-19 vaccination

In the second stage, the objective is to intensify vaccination against COVID-19 in the entire population over 12 years of age. Until January 27th, 80.56% of the population had been vaccinated with two doses or a single dose of the vaccine.

Step 3: Scaling up vaccination against COVID-19 among children and adolescents

In this stage, also starting in March, the objective is to intensify vaccination against COVID-19 among children and adolescents, from six months to 17 years old. The strategy is to mobilize the school community, from Kindergarten to High School, with two weeks of mobilization and guidance activities, in addition to communicating students, parents and guardians about the need to take the Vaccination Booklet for evaluation.

Read more: 5 reasons to keep your vaccination book up to date

Step 4: Influenza vaccination

The fourth stage begins in April and focuses on the influenza vaccination campaign. The target audience will be:

• People over 60 years old;

• Adolescents in socio-educational measures;

• Truck drivers and truck drivers;

• Children aged six months to four years;

• Armed forces;

• Security and Rescue Forces;

• Pregnant women and postpartum women;

• Disabled people;

• People with comorbidities;

• Population deprived of liberty;

• Indigenous, riverside and quilombola peoples;

• Teachers and professors;

• Public transport professionals;

• Port professionals;

• Professionals of the Deprivation of Liberty System;

• Health workers and workers.

Step 5: Polio and measles multivaccination in schools

Starting in May, the fifth stage will consist of multivaccination of poliomyelitis and measles in schools. The actions will include the mobilization of the school community with two weeks of guidance activities, the reduction of pockets of non-vaccinated people and the communication to students, parents and guardians about the need to take the Vaccination Booklet for evaluation.