The low commitment of the elderly to the flu vaccine worries the health authorities in the country | National Magazine

Retired Maria Ines de Sils, 82, proudly displays her vaccination card. She was vaccinated against influenza early in the campaign.

“My husband and I, in the early days. Day two we’ve already come; we didn’t let it go, no. Guaranteed, immune, right? It’s something you have to take, so why keep leaving it (for later), right?” he says.

But this was not the norm. In Belo Horizonte, in addition to all 152 health centers, the city council, during the campaign against influenza, established 11 additional vaccination centers. One is at a university, which offers several free programs for seniors. However, commitment was low.

According to the Ministry of Health, since April 4, only 34.5% of elderly people across Brazil have been immunized against influenza. The goal is to vaccinate 90% of people over 60 by the end of the campaign, on June 3. The Ministry stresses the importance of the influenza vaccine.

“One factor that has been associated with this decrease in vaccine coverage is the fact that, all too often, the population has a misconception that they have already been immunized and that they do not need to take that dose. This is a misconception. You need to get the vaccine every year, because Basically, influenza is a seasonal disease. Every year, we have a new vaccine with the most common variants in circulation”, says Arnaldo Medeiros, Minister of Health Surveillance at the Ministry of Health.

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The Brazilian Association of Immunization says that the situation is dangerous for the elderly. “People started to worry about Covid, and the rest was forgotten. What is expected is that from now on this contact with people will re-emerge in diseases that we know epidemiology will depend on vaccination coverage. This population over 60 years of age represents the group most at risk of severe forms and mortality, and it is imperative that they be vaccinated,” explains Director Mônica Levi.

Retired Elenes das Gracas Borges, 72, and her husband do not want to take the risk. Take the opportunity to ensure double protection against Covid and influenza.

The vaccine is very, very important. Avoid both diseases. Older people like this have more to do with the vaccine,” he highlights.