All children aged 6 months to less than 1 year should be vaccinated against measles

The measure aims to intensify vaccination in this target audience of the disease, which is more susceptible to serious cases and deaths. In all, 1.6 million more doses will be sent to the states 

As of this Thursday (22), all children from six months to under 1 year old should be vaccinated against measles across the country. This preventive measure should reach 1.4 million children, who did not receive the extra dose, called ‘zero dose’, in addition to those provided for in the National Vaccination Calendar, at 12 and 15 months. For this, the Ministry of Health will send 1.6 million more doses to the states. The goal is to intensify the vaccination of this target audience, which is more susceptible to serious cases and deaths.

The action is an immediate response from the Ministry of Health due to the increase in cases of the disease in some states. On Tuesday (20), the Ministry of Health released a new bulletin with measles cases. Brazil recorded, in the last 90 days, between May 19 and August 10, 2019, 1,680 confirmed cases of measles, in 11 states: São Paulo (1,662), Rio de Janeiro (6), Pernambuco (4), Bahia ( 1), Paraná (1), Goiás (1), Maranhão (1), Rio Grande do Norte (1), Espírito Santo (1), Sergipe (1) and Piauí (1). The disease incidence coefficient was 0.80 per 100,000 inhabitants.

“The Ministry of Health is taking a preventive measure. We are concerned with this age group because in previous outbreaks children under the age of one have evolved to more serious cases and deaths. Therefore, it is necessary that all children in the priority range be immunized against the measles virus, considering the possibility of transit of sick people to affected and unaffected regions ”, clarified the Secretary of Health Surveillance of the Ministry of Health, Wanderson Oliveira .

The Ministry of Health has a vaccine purchase plan, based on the number of people who should be vaccinated, considering routine actions (average of 2.5 million doses / month); blocking actions to interrupt the transmission chain; in addition to additional doses for children aged six months to less than one year. The Ministry of Health has reiterated with the states and municipalities the orientation so that the strategies are restricted to these situations, avoiding the possible shortage of the vaccine.  

It is important to clarify that the so-called “zero dose” is not a substitute and will not be considered valid for the purposes of the child’s national vaccination schedule. Thus, in addition to this dose that is being applied now, parents and guardians must take their children to take the triple viral vaccine (D1) at 12 months of age (1st dose); and at 15 months (2nd dose) to take the tetra viral vaccine or the triple viral + chickenpox, respecting the 30-day interval between doses. Routine vaccination of children should be maintained regardless of whether the child has taken the “zero dose” of the vaccine.

In the routine of the Unified Health System (SUS) the triple viral is available in all more than 36 thousand vaccination posts throughout Brazil. The vaccine also prevents rubella and mumps. This year, the Ministry has already sent 10.5 million doses of the triple viral vaccine to the states, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella. This amount is to meet routine vaccination, as provided for in the National Vaccination Calendar, in all states of the country, vaccination block and to intensify the vaccination of children from six months to 11 months and 29 days of age. Of this total vaccine, 71% was sent to the state of São Paulo, which concentrates 99% of measles cases in the country. The vaccine is the main form of treatment for measles.

VACINAL BLOCK

In addition to vaccinating children in the priority age group, the Ministry of Health, through the Health Surveillance Secretariat, also advises states and municipalities to carry out the vaccination block. That is, in a situation of active measles outbreak, when a case of the disease is identified in some location, it is necessary to vaccinate all people who had or have contact with that suspected case within 72 hours. In this case, it is recommended that they are carried out selectively, that is, there is no need for revaccination of people who have already been vaccinated and who have vaccination evidence.

The Ministry of Health has been actively working with states and municipalities to deal with the measles outbreak, and recommendations have been made to stop the circulation of the virus in the country.

ACTIONS

With the entry of new cases of the disease in the country, the ministry has reinforced the actions to combat and prevent the disease in the states that have active circulation of the measles virus. This month, the Ministry of Health alerted public and private health professionals to protection and care to prevent the spread of measles in health facilities in the country.

Among the guidelines is that all service workers are vaccinated; in addition to the need to offer periodic training in relation to safety and biological risks at work; and relocation of pregnant women who provide assistance directly to suspected cases and who do not have previous proof of vaccination. The guidance is part of a set of recommendations sent to the State and Municipal Health Secretariats.

Brazilian municipalities with active measles outbreak (until 20/08/2019)

Publicação original: Ministério da Saúde