The start date of the campaign has not yet been disclosed, but the first batch of pediatric vaccines should arrive next Thursday, 13. The distribution to the states will begin to be made the following day, if the schedule is met.
The order of priority in vaccination announced by the government will start with children aged 5 to 11 with permanent disabilities or comorbidities, followed by indigenous and quilombola children. The third stage will be with children who live with people at high risk, and finally, children without comorbidities will be immunized, in descending order of age.
One of the guidelines of the Ministry of Health is that it is not necessary to have a prescription to vaccinate children, but emphasizes that parents "look for a doctor′s prior recommendation before immunization." Written authorization will only be required in cases where the child is not accompanied by a father, mother or guardian at the time of vaccination.
How safe is this vaccine for children?
Experts interviewed by ANVISA claim that the benefits of Pfizer′s immunizing agent outweigh the risks. The main warning is that “the burden of the disease is not negligible”.
“The mortality of these children in this age group is high – higher than any other vaccine in the children′s calendar, where we have no hesitation in recommending vaccines for children in this age group”, warns Renato Kfouri, president of the Department of Immunizations of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics and director of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations (SBIm).
Especially for parents, it is important that they take their children to get the vaccine. According to Kfouri, "Covid-19 alone, in this population in particular - children and adolescents - kills more than all the diseases in the children′s calendar added together annually".
The dose that will be administered to children will not be the same as for adults, being applied in two doses 21 days apart, but the dosage, composition and concentration are different.
