The national vaccination campaign began in the state of Minas on Saturday (21) and continues until the 4th. Focusing on children and adolescents up to 15 years of age, the campaign offers immunizations against hepatitis, yellow fever, meningitis, polio, measles and human papillomavirus, among other diseases. Belo Horizonte will have a “Vaccination Day” next Saturday (28), with several measures.

New features this year, aimed at expanding immunization in the state, include the purchase of 253 “mobile vaccine vehicles,” “offshore” measures and rewards for cities that reach recommended protection levels.

Nova Lima, for example, a municipality visited by the Secretary of State for Health, Fabio Paceretti, on Saturday, has already received R$400,000 and is purchasing a Vassimovil, a vehicle that will visit plazas in the city to expand the immunization. The state of Minas has invested more than R$ 100 million in purchasing small trucks for “vacimóveis”.

Many diseases, previously eradicated, are at risk of reappearing if our children and adolescents are not vaccinated, as is the case with measles and also poliomyelitis, which causes polio. In Brazil, vaccination has already succeeded in eliminating diseases such as polio – which have returned in countries such as the United States. According to the state Ministry of Health, the doses provided by the Ministry of Health were sent at the request of the municipalities.

Multiple vaccination is a strategy aimed at facilitating eligible residents’ access to several vaccines at once, and simplifying the visit of parents or guardians to basic health units (UBS) to update their vaccination card, according to the National Immunization Calendar.