Brazil: 2018 influenza vaccination begins for winter season

Event

A national influenza vaccination campaign began on Monday, April 23, to vaccinate at least 54.4 million at-risk people ahead of the upcoming winter season. The main groups targeted include children under five years old, people over 60 years old, indigenous peoples, pregnant women, women who have given birth in the preceding 45 days, health workers, educational professionals, prisoners, prison staff, and people with chronic noncommunicable diseases and other special clinical conditions. The vaccination campaign is slated to continue until June 1.

Context

This year's vaccine covers the three most common influenza strains in the southern hemisphere: H1N1, H3N2, and influenza B.

According to the Brazilian Health Ministry, there were 392 cases of influenza, resulting in 62 deaths, from January 1 to April 14, 2018. There were 2691 flu cases and 498 flu-related deaths in 2017.

Advice

Individuals in Brazil are advised to verify their vaccination status and monitor developments to the situation.