Children's Vaccinations are Below Target in 25% of Cities

07/05/2018 - 11h13

Out of the 5,570 cities in the country, 1,453 are below the ideal level of coverage for mandatory vaccinations involving infants and children. This conclusion is based on a study of data from the 2017 National Immunization Program, a preventive strategy of the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS), conducted by Folha.

Currently, the targets are 95% for vaccinations against polio, measles and meningitis, for example. The Ministry of Health considers that at any level below this, there is a risk of old diseases returning and outbreaks of those that were never entirely eliminated.

According to specialists, various factors have contributed to the fall off in vaccinations. Among them are an increase in the number of vaccinations provided - which necessitates more trips to the health clinic until the baby is 15 months old -, restricted service hours available at clinics and lower levels of concern among the population related to diseases.

The Federal Government has appealed to Municipal Governments to implant a nominal registration system, which allows for data matching and control for each immunized child. On the agenda since 2012, it has reached only 65% of vaccination locales so far.

	Foto: Adriana Toffetti / A7 Press / Folhapress
	Currently, the targets are 95% for vaccinations against polio, measles and meningitis

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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