The population’s adherence to the polio campaign leaves something to be desired

The campaign of multiple vaccinations and immunization against polio, which began on August 20, is far from achieving the goal of vaccinating 95% of citizens. The low vaccination rate has caused the closing date to be extended from the 9th to the 30th of this month. With only 35% of the target achieved, the file wants to boost the campaign to update the handbook of vaccinations for children, especially those under the age of five, and adolescents up to the age of 15. In order to encourage the population to join, the Minister of Health, Marcelo Quiroga, will be present today at the vaccination event, in Parque da Cidade, in Brasilia (DF). After the event, Quiroga should head to Cidade Astrotoral, 16 km from the Esplanade.

As of yesterday, the campaign had reached 6,560,319 applied doses of all types, but on peak day it was more than 570,000 daily doses. The numbers leave something to be desired, despite the broadcast of awareness campaigns in the main means of communication and in places with a wide spread of people.

In multiple vaccinations, doses are given for Hepatitis A and B, Penta (DTP/Hib/Hep B), 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine, inactivated polio vaccine (VIP), human rotavirus (HRV) vaccine, meningococcal C vaccine ( conjugated), oral polio vaccine (VOP), yellow fever, MMR (measles, rubella, mumps), tetralogy (measles, rubella, mumps, chickenpox), DTP (trivalent bacteria), chickenpox and tetravalent HPV .

The trend of declining vaccination is not current: since 2016, internal problems in the public health system and various obstacles to access have led to a decrease in the adherence of the population. According to Nisio Fernandez, President of the National Council of Health Trustees (CONAS), the biggest problem has been the spread of anti-vaccine messages that have emerged since 2020, leading to mistrust among the population.

The expert points out that the Ministry of Health has weakened itself in the process of combating infringing theses. “When you have a minister who says that parental opinion is what matters, there is a drop in the body in curing an epidemic. The narrative leadership of the whole country’s characters has to be of persuasion, mobilization, and persuasion that that chooses to integrate because technology is best for society,” he criticizes.

He points out that “voluntary and spontaneous commitment is on average 80%, but should reach 95%”. The Chair highlights the need for effective communication campaigns. “It must be persuasive and not problematic. It must establish strong communications, leadership, and not caution, so as not to disturb the views of Palácio do Planalto. In addition, there are mandatory measures of encouragement, such as participation in competitions through the vaccine institutions.”