Multiple Immunization Day mobilizes more than 1,000 children in Manaus

More than a thousand children were vaccinated by the Municipal Health Service (SMSA) teams this Sunday 20/3, during the multiple vaccination day promoted by the municipality of Manaus. The procedure was carried out in Parque Cidade da Crianca, in the Aleixo district, in the central and southern region of the capital, from 9 am to 4 pm, with the aim of increasing the access of the public from 0 to 14 years of age to more than 15 vaccines from the basic calendar for children as well as to Covid-19 vaccine.

SMSA School Principal Shadia Fraxi, who accompanied the opening of the works, highlighted that the Multiple Immunization Day is part of the strategies outlined by the Secretariat to increase immunization coverage for children against measles, polio, meningitis, rubella and jaundice. Fever and other diseases that can be prevented by vaccination.

“Many parents work from Monday to Saturday and find it difficult to find vaccine rooms during the week, so we chose Sunday to implement this multi-vaccination day,” the secretary said, explaining that the measure will be taken in other areas, and meet the recommendations of Mayor David Almeida to diversify forms Access and rehabilitation of services provided to the population.

Even with the torrential rain, movement in the park was intense all day. According to the Southern District Health District (DISA) Director, Jucinara Rodrigues, who is responsible for coordinating activities at the site, 1,227 doses have been applied. A total of 768 children aged 5 to 11 received the Covid-19 vaccination and another 357 updated their vaccination booklet with one or more doses of the children’s calendar.

In addition, 102 children and adolescents received the HPV vaccine, which is available for girls 9 to 14 years of age and for boys 11 to 14 years of age, and 400 updated vaccination card declarations were issued, at the request of parents and guardians.

To welcome and encourage the children’s audience, the coordination of Parque Cidade da Crianca has organized many leisure activities in the space, with a sports and entertainment circuit, football, wheeled games, ziplines, climbing and a cinematic session. “We have prepared many activities to ensure that the vaccine is accompanied by games and a lot of fun,” said Park coordinator, Livia Carneiro.

Manicurist Noêmia da Silva was one of the mums who searched for the place on Sunday. She took her 9-month-old daughter, Adriele, to update her vaccination card, which was overdue. Noemia said that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, she did not regularly go to the Basic Health Unit (UBS) to keep up with scheduled vaccinations for the first months of her life. “This work was very important. I saw it on TV and took the opportunity to come here. Now I am calm,” he said.

Industrialist Ricardo Barbosa also arrived early, as his 8-year-old son, Joao Ricardo, was vaccinated. He testified that “mobilizing the municipality outside the traditional days helps a lot.” He said he was already vaccinated against Covid-19 and that it was comforting to see his son vaccinated as well.

Little Ryan, just three months old, received a missed polio shot because her parents still couldn’t take her to UBS. The mother, Vivian dos Santos, arrived in the middle of the morning and said the multiple vaccination day was a great way to update her daughter’s handbook.

Anyone who has not been to the park and needs to update their children’s guide should look for the nearest UBS. More than 170 vaccine rooms in units in the urban area and 10 in rural areas provide vaccines recommended by the National Immunization Program (PNI) free of charge, in routine care.

To receive Vital Immunosuppressants, all you need to do is present your SUS brochure and card. A list of vaccination rooms with addresses and opening hours is available on SMSA website (semsa.manaus.am.gov.br)

Surface

Data collected by SMSA and presented during the 1st Municipal Immunization Forum, held by the City Council, on the 16th, show that eight of the nine first-year vaccinations, monitored with priority by the Ministry of Health, have vaccination coverage below the target 95%.

The BCG vaccine, given at birth to protect against severe forms of tuberculosis, has declined, but coverage remains 98.9%. Coverage of the other eight vaccines is less than 80%. Only 68% of the population under the age of one year is protected from polio, for example, 74.5% against measles, rubella and mumps, by trivalent virus and only 67.4% have received pentavalent, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and hepatitis B and infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Yellow fever vaccination coverage has been rated critical by the secretary: only 55.3% of children who should be vaccinated at nine months of age have received the dose, according to 2021 data.

“Coverage has decreased since 2015 and the epidemic has worsened the situation. It is urgent now that this situation be reversed,” says Shadia Fraxi. According to her, even below expectations, data from Manaus is still above the Brazilian average, which Indicates that the national scenario is worrying.

“The problem of vaccination coverage is a global reality and bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health have already issued alerts to the risk of re-emergence of diseases that have already been eradicated, such as polio, with registered in Malawi, Africa,” the secretary said.

the answers

The holding of the forum was one of the responses to the need to increase vaccination coverage in the capital. The commitment letter under review and approval must be signed by participants: managers, servers, professionals associated with the secretariat itself, universities, medical societies, teaching and research institutions, and regulatory bodies. The aim is to plan compatible actions and implement them on several fronts.

In addition, an advertising campaign, signed by the City Council of Manaus, has already been launched, reminding parents and guardians of the need to update the vaccination card for children and adolescents according to the national calendar.

Decentralization measures are already being planned, on alternate days and times, such as what happened this Sunday, in Parque Cidade da Crianca, to ensure increased coverage of all children’s vaccinations.

text – Andrea Arruda / SMSA

Pictures – Camila Batista / SMSA