COVID-19: application of the bivalent vaccine will begin in February in Brazil

O Ministry of Health announced, on Thursday (26), that the first stage of the new vaccination plan against COVID-19 will begin on February 27 with the application of the Pfizer’s bivalent vaccine. It is an updated booster that protects against the original strain of coronavirus and against omicron subvariants.

According to the folder, the most vulnerable groups and that were vaccinated with at least two doses of the monovalent vaccine (previously manufactured versions) will receive the bivalent. The goal is to vaccinate 90% of the target population. In this first stage, the groups will be vaccinated in the following order of priority:

• Phase 1: people aged 70 or over, residents of long-term care facilities (ILP), immunocompromised, indigenous, riverside and quilombola communities;

• Phase 2: people aged 60 to 69 years;

• Phase 3: pregnant and postpartum women;

• Phase 4: health professionals.

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According to Éder Gatti, director of the Department of Immunization and Immunopreventable Diseases, only those who have taken at least two doses of the monovalent vaccine will be vaccinated with the bivalent vaccine. Those who took only one dose will still have to take the second dose of the first version to take the bivalent.

Reinforcement of the campaign for other groups

In addition to applying the bivalent vaccine to priority groups, the Ministry of Health also intends to intensify the campaign with the monovalent vaccine for people over 12 years old. The objective is to increase vaccination coverage in this public. The recommendation is:

• A booster dose for those up to 40 years old;

• Two booster shots for those over 40.

In addition, the ministry will anticipate 8.5 million doses of Pfizer baby (for children aged six months to four years); 9.2 million doses of pediatric Pfizer (children aged five to 11 years) and 2.6 million doses of CoronaVac (for children aged three to four years). All this to also increase vaccination coverage in children.

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The Ministry of Health also intends to start an information campaign to emphasize the importance of vaccination against COVID-19 and its booster doses. “I am very confident in this vaccination campaign, but I know that it is very complex. We will work to reduce all the bottlenecks. The answer will not be unique. Brazil is very complex. Some municipalities have progressed well, others have not. We are going to advance in this diagnosis”, said Nísia Trindade, Minister of Health.