The Ministry of Health announced, this Wednesday (23), the application of the fourth dose of the vaccine against Covid-19 in elderly people over 80 years, as anticipated by R7. It is estimated that 4.6 million elderly people receive this second booster dose.

According to the paste, the application should be made four months after the first booster dose. The orientation is that the vaccine is, preferably, from Pfizer. Janssen and AstraZeneca immunizers can also be used as an alternative, independently of the previous vaccine. However, the ministry stated that there are enough doses of Pfizer to comply with this new stage of the campaign.

The decision to incorporate the fourth dose was taken by the Technical Advisory Board on Immunizations (CTAI), which took into account the reduction in the effectiveness of vaccines in this public. The studies considered by the technicians indicate that there is a “natural ageing of the immune system, which requires a differentiated strategy for the protection of this group.”

Cetai is now studying the need to extend the fourth dose to other ages. The strategy already served immunocompromised people from 12 years of age. “The Ministry of Health monitors the need to apply the second booster dose in other age groups and the recommendations can be reviewed at any time”, said the folder.

In the states

The state of São Paulo has already started, since last Monday (21), to apply the fourth dose in elderly people over 80 years old. According to the state government, 900,000 people in this age group will receive the application at this stage of the immunization schedule. Mato Grosso follows a similar strategy. In Pará and Amazonas, the release is from the age of 70.

In Espírito Santo and Rio Grande do Norte, the expansion of vaccination includes people over 60 years of age, as well as in Mato Grosso do Sul, which still provides health professionals with a second booster dose. The other states followed the instructions of the Ministry of Health restricting the fourth dose to immunosuppressed patients.

The ministry, led by Marcelo Queiroga, is considering revoking the ordinance that decreed, in 2020, a state of emergency in public health of national importance as a result of the pandemic, but it faces legal obstacles since there are a series of acts with effects directly linked to the pandemic. to her. Queiroga said that there is no deadline for suspending the measure.

Given this scenario, the minister recently met with the presidents of the Chamber of Deputies, the Federal Senate and the Federal Supreme Court — Arthur Lira (PP-AL), Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG) and Luiz Fux, respectively — to discuss the theme.

At the meetings, Queiroga informed that the government is studying a transition from the pandemic situation and highlighted that nothing will be changed abruptly. The minister also showed reports of the epidemiological situation in the country.

“I have been talking with the presidents of the powers so that we have a smooth transition, that these measures are gradual and have to present what already exists in society”, said Queiroga, adding that there are, for now, no new meetings planned on the subject.