It is a consensus that only population vaccination can contain the advance of the new coronavirus pandemic in Brazil. The contagion numbers are still alarming, but vaccination in the country is evolving, according to figures presented in the "Vaccinometer", the Ministry of Health portal that presents daily updates on immunization actions.
As shown on the portal, until June 16, Brazil had distributed 110,471,288 doses, with more than 81 million vaccines actually applied. Of this total, 57,676,179 make up the first dose, while the second dose is estimated at 23,864,423 applications, with resources destined for the State in the order of 158 million. The portal also presents other numbers about the pandemic in Brazil, such as the number of recovered (over 16 million) and deaths resulting from Covid-19, estimated at more than 490 thousand.
According to the Ministry of Health portal, the vaccines adopted by SUS have gone through all the necessary steps for the creation of a new immunizing agent and meet strict scientific criteria adopted by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). See the status of vaccines that will be available in the National Immunization Program (PNI). The numbers can be followed through the link https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/vacinacao
In parallel to the acquisition of vaccines, it is essential that the Brazilian Cold Chain is also supplied with adequate equipment for the storage of vaccines. Scientific refrigerators are essential to preserve dose integrity and provide effective immunization to the population. Unfortunately, many Brazilian municipalities still lack this equipment and continue to store vaccines in domestic refrigerators. This practice is prohibited by legislation, since the entry into force of RDC 197/2017, which advocates the correct storage of vaccines in scientific refrigerators regulated by the Brazilian Ministry of Health/ANVISA, which meet the technological specifications required for the conservation of immunobiologicals.