In view of the successive and alarming declines in vaccination coverage in Brazil, in particular, in the rates related to childhood immunization, the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/Fiocruz) reinforces an important message to society.
In a recent video, eight scientists committed to better understanding the diseases that affect the health of the population, took a short break from their research to emphasize the need for the population to keep their doses up to date.
Allied in the prevention of illnesses and deaths, vaccines have the mission of protecting the human body: they 'teach' the immune system to fight viruses and bacteria that challenge public health.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, the population's vaccination coverage has been plummeting, reaching in 2021 with less than 59% of citizens immunized. In 2020, the index was 67% and in 2019, 73%. The level recommended by the Ministry of Health is 95%.
Until the mid-1980s, polio caused paralysis in almost 100 children a day on the planet, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).
In Brazil alone, almost 27 thousand cases of the disease were registered between 1968 and 1989, the year of the last notification in the country. In 1994, the Americas received the certificate of elimination of the disease.
However, for some years the Brazilian Ministry of Health has been warning of a possible return of the disease due to low vaccination rates. In 2021, less than 70% of the target audience had their doses up to date, compared to more than 98% in 2015.
With measles, the story is no different. While from 1990 to 2000, Brazil registered more than 177 cases, vaccination campaigns led the country to receive the certificate of elimination of the disease in 2016.
However, in 2019, the country lost recognition after failing to control an outbreak that started in the North in 2018 and spread to other states.
Preventable through vaccination since the late 1930s, yellow fever has killed thousands of Brazilians in recent years, with hundreds of deaths.
Due to the low vaccination coverage, the country counted only between 2016 and 2018 more cases than in 55 years of history: there were 1.150 cases and 407 deaths from 1960 to 2015, against 2000 notifications and 670 deaths from 2016 to mid-2018.
With regard to the flu, the situation is the same. Even with annual vaccination campaigns, many people have not attended health centers to receive the vaccine. The result, once again, is an increase in cases and deaths. The flu led to the death of more than 1.700 Brazilians in the first two months of 2022 alone.
The Brazilian population has free access to all vaccines recommended by the WHO - including immunizers targeted at children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. In all, there are more than 20 vaccines with specific recommendations and guidelines for children, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, the elderly and indigenous people. Recently, the country included immunization against Covid-19 in its calendar.
For nearly three decades, Law No. 8.069, which provides for the Child and Adolescent Statute, makes it mandatory to vaccinate children in cases recommended by health authorities.
And, according to Decree No. 78.231, of 1976, it is the duty of every citizen to submit himself, and minors for whom he has custody or responsibility, to the mandatory vaccinations defined by the national immunization calendar (click here to check).
In view of the successive and alarming declines in vaccination coverage in Brazil, in particular, in the rates related to childhood immunization, the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/Fiocruz) reinforces an important message to society.
In a recent video, eight scientists committed to better understanding the diseases that affect the health of the population, took a short break from their research to emphasize the need for the population to keep their doses up to date.
Allied in the prevention of illnesses and deaths, vaccines have the mission of protecting the human body: they 'teach' the immune system to fight viruses and bacteria that challenge public health.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, the population's vaccination coverage has been plummeting, reaching in 2021 with less than 59% of citizens immunized. In 2020, the index was 67% and in 2019, 73%. The level recommended by the Ministry of Health is 95%.
Until the mid-1980s, polio caused paralysis in almost 100 children a day on the planet, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).
In Brazil alone, almost 27 thousand cases of the disease were registered between 1968 and 1989, the year of the last notification in the country. In 1994, the Americas received the certificate of elimination of the disease.
However, for some years the Brazilian Ministry of Health has been warning of a possible return of the disease due to low vaccination rates. In 2021, less than 70% of the target audience had their doses up to date, compared to more than 98% in 2015.
With measles, the story is no different. While from 1990 to 2000, Brazil registered more than 177 cases, vaccination campaigns led the country to receive the certificate of elimination of the disease in 2016.
However, in 2019, the country lost recognition after failing to control an outbreak that started in the North in 2018 and spread to other states.
Preventable through vaccination since the late 1930s, yellow fever has killed thousands of Brazilians in recent years, with hundreds of deaths.
Due to the low vaccination coverage, the country counted only between 2016 and 2018 more cases than in 55 years of history: there were 1.150 cases and 407 deaths from 1960 to 2015, against 2000 notifications and 670 deaths from 2016 to mid-2018.
With regard to the flu, the situation is the same. Even with annual vaccination campaigns, many people have not attended health centers to receive the vaccine. The result, once again, is an increase in cases and deaths. The flu led to the death of more than 1.700 Brazilians in the first two months of 2022 alone.
The Brazilian population has free access to all vaccines recommended by the WHO - including immunizers targeted at children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. In all, there are more than 20 vaccines with specific recommendations and guidelines for children, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, the elderly and indigenous people. Recently, the country included immunization against Covid-19 in its calendar.
For nearly three decades, Law No. 8.069, which provides for the Child and Adolescent Statute, makes it mandatory to vaccinate children in cases recommended by health authorities.
And, according to Decree No. 78.231, of 1976, it is the duty of every citizen to submit himself, and minors for whom he has custody or responsibility, to the mandatory vaccinations defined by the national immunization calendar (click here to check).
The non-profit reproduction of the text is allowed as long as the source is cited (Comunicação / Instituto Oswaldo Cruz)
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