The Vaccination Association wants teenagers to return to vaccination

Last Thursday (16) SBIm (Brazilian Society for Immunization) criticized the decision of the Ministry of Health, which Unrestricted withdrawal of the recommendation to vaccinate adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age. In a memo signed by the group’s board of directors, the organization stated that “the measure generates fear in the population and opens the door to false news.”

The association said it understood “that populations at greatest risk” should be given priority in the vaccination campaign, but disagreed with points made by Minister Marcelo Quiroga in support of the ministry’s decision. According to SBIm, “the justifications given are not clear or unsupported.”

The entity memo responded to nine clauses, noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends vaccination for adolescents aged 12-17, and Anvisa (the national health monitoring agency) has not limited management to people with comorbidities and serious harm. The events are very low and less than the risk of contracting covid-19 itself.

“The death of an adolescent who received the Pfizer vaccine, as well as all other cases of possible adverse events, should be carefully investigated. However, to date, a causal relationship with the vaccine has not been established. Care must be taken to avoid this happening. Reckless measures are taken.”

Finally, the organization highlighted the improvement in the Brazilian epidemiological scenario due to the mass vaccination campaign. “There is no scientific evidence to support a decision to discontinue vaccination of adolescents, with or without comorbidities. Therefore, SBIm understands that the process must be resumed, as has already been evaluated, issued and indicated by Anvisa.”

Retreat

The Minister of Health, Marcelo Quiroga, confirmed on Thursday afternoon (16) that the government has decided that only adolescents aged 12-17 with permanent disabilities, comorbidities or deprived of liberty should be vaccinated.

On September 2, the ministry published an information note recommending that this entire public be vaccinated. During the press conference, Quiroga stated that “unexpectedly” nearly 3.5 million children and adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 received the vaccine. Of this total, 1.5 thousand had adverse events.

The minister criticized that countries started applications before the date specified in the previous technical note. Health trusts expressed surprise that immunizations for children and adolescents were suspended without tripartite deliberations. “I am the one who is surprised because vaccination should start on the fifteenth day [de setembro] Rather, immunizations with vaccines were carried out outside the scope of Anvisa’s recommendations.”

Quiroga also mentioned that those teens who have already taken the first dose should not complete the vaccination schedule, unless they are part of the priority groups. The new guidance is “until there is more evidence going forward”.