Flu vaccination campaign begins

In times of misinformation and denialism, it is important to emphasize: vaccines are safe and the best way to protect yourself against the circulation of viruses that usually cause illnesses in the autumn.

The vaccine against the Influenza virus, which causes flu, is a trivalent vaccine produced by the Butantan Institute with two strains of Influenza A and one of Influenza B.

The Ministry of Health estimates vaccinating 79,5 million people across the country and, therefore, distributed 80 million doses. 

In the state of São Paulo, where only 69% of the target audience was immunized last year, the goal is to reach 18,4 million people this year. In the state of Rio de Janeiro, it is expected to vaccinate 6,9 million people.  

 “After we get vaccinated, the flu even catches on, but it’s milder. Every year I get vaccinated and, thank God, it comes lighter”, says retiree Adão Eusébio Francisco, aged 84, who got vaccinated today in the center of Rio de Janeiro. (With information from Agência Brasil)

VCR grows and covid “messed up” its seasonality

The elderly and children are most affected by viruses that cause more serious cases of flu, common at this time of year. And worse: Covid-10 “messed up” the seasonality of the Sin Viruscicial Respiratory System (VCR), one of the biggest villains for children between zero and 4 years old, according to Fiocruz.

According to the latest Infogripe bulletin, in 15 states, there has already been an increase in the number of new hospitalizations of children due to (RSV).

O sin viruscicial respiratory (VSR) was present in 30% of cases of respiratory diseases registered in Brazil in the first three months of 2023, when it is not usually common, due to the warmer climate.

However, between January and March, more than 3,3 thousand infections – of these, 95% affected only babies and children aged 0 to 4, according to data from the Ministry of Health, collected and monitored by Infogripe. (G1)

According to a survey carried out by the Todos pela Saúde Institute, on February 10, this trend was already strong:

Positivity for synviruscicirespiratory disease exceeds Covid-19 in the country, says ITpS

At 18%, the positivity of tests for Sin Viruscicial Respiratory Disease (RSV) surpassed positive tests for covid-19, which is at 15%. At the moment, both viruses are showing an upward trend, according to a survey carried out by the Todos pela Saúde Institute (ITpS).

In adults, the concern continues to be the increase in hospitalizations for Covid-19, with a much greater risk for those who are late with vaccination or who have not even taken the first dose of the vaccine against the disease.

To date, this trend can be observed in 10 states. The analysis is based on data entered into the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System (Sivep-Gripe) until March 27th and refers to Epidemiological Week (SE) 12, period from March 19th to 25th.  

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Viral mix: flu, covid-19 and synviruscicial should circulate together in 2023

The Director of the Biocontainment Unit at Johns Hopkins Hospital, in the United States, highlights that growth in the three diseases occurred in the USA at the end of last year and the scenario could be repeated in the Southern Hemisphere in 2023.