Bolsa Família will require a child vaccination certificate; check out more program requirements

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated on Monday (7) that the vaccination of children will be mandatory for families who signed up for Bolsa Familia. The program will now have a permanent value of R$600, with an additional R$150 per child under six years of age.

According to Lula, Bolsa Família will have three prerequisites:

• Children must be enrolled in school;

• Their vaccination card must be up to date;

• Pregnant women should perform all required tests during prenatal care.

“Today, in addition to advertising, it is necessary to convince people. It is necessary to convince the father and mother that a child has to be vaccinated for the good of the child and for the good of the family”, said the president during the inauguration event of the Super Centro Carioca de Saúde, in the neighborhood of Benfica, in Rio de Janeiro. January.

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

Ministry of Health publishes 2023 Vaccination Calendar

Last Tuesday (31), the Ministry of Health released the schedule for the 2023 National Vaccination Program. Actions should start from February 27, with the application of the bivalent vaccine against COVID-19 for people risk of developing a serious illness.

The schedule also provides for the intensification of the influenza, polio and measles campaign. The goal is increase vaccine coverage, which have shown alarming rates in recent years — especially for diseases that have already been eradicated in the country.

“Brazil, considered a pioneering country in vaccination campaigns, has been showing setbacks in this field since 2016. Virtually all vaccine coverage is below the target. Therefore, the objective is to resume the high percentages of protection”, said the agency.

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

The Unified Health System (SUS) offers the Brazilian population free access to a large number of vaccines against several serious diseases, with specific recommendations and guidelines for children, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, the elderly and indigenous people. Just go to a Basic Health Unit (UBS) with the vaccination card in hand, following the guidelines of the basic vaccination schedules and/or annual campaigns.

It is noteworthy that vaccines are also necessary in adult life. From the age of 20, the Ministry of Health recommends immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, yellow fever, diphtheria and tetanus. As for the elderly, vaccines are indicated against hepatitis B, diphtheria and tetanus, 23-valent pneumococcal and influenza, the virus that causes the flu. The latter is the reason for annual campaigns.