Health regulators call for suspension of teen vaccine and ‘mix’ of immunizing agents

NS National Board of Health Trustees (Kaunas) This Monday, 13, he sent an official letter to Minister Marcelo Quiroga asking the federal government to prioritize the application of a booster dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 in the elderly over the age of 60 and those with weakened immunity. The document also requires, with AstraZeneca delaying the second dose, that the National Immunization Program (PNI) suspend application in adolescents without comorbidities while priority groups are not revaccinated.

In addition to seniors over the age of 60, Conass is also asking the federal government to prioritize booster dose application for those in long-term care homes or immunocompromised. “We understand that the moment demands national unity in the tripartite parties and that the appropriate situation at the moment is to search for safe and tangible pathways for full vaccination coverage of the Brazilian population,” the text reads. Today, the Ministry of Health only offers the booster dose to people over 70 years of age.

The justification, according to Kunas, would be due to “recent difficulties noted in several units of the consortium in the availability of the AstraZeneca vaccine for the implementation of the second dose” and “the continued reporting of severe cases in populations already vaccinated. 60 years or older”.

The document is signed by Carlos Lula, Minister of Health of Maranhão and President of Kunas, was sent to Quiroga and rosana milk, the extraordinary secretary to confront Covid-19. In it, the agency is also asking the Ministry of Health for permission to administer heterogeneous doses (a vaccine different from the one used in the first application) when there is an “objective lack of availability of the isotropic regimen”.

Earlier, Quiroga criticized the application of heterogeneous doses that were not for people over 70 years of age receiving the booster vaccine and in exceptional cases. Since last week, some states have experienced delays in delivering vaccines needed for the second dose, and on Monday, the 13th, places like Rio and Sao Paulo began applying Pfizer to those who needed a second dose of it. AstraZeneca The vaccination schedule was delayed.