Flu vaccination campaign begins and pregnant women are encouraged to get vaccine

Here in the Federal District, capital of the country, authorities are making a special effort to have pregnant women get the flu vaccine this year. The vaccine provides protection against the three most common types of influenza that circulate in the Southern Hemisphere. And, most importantly, this year’s vaccine also protects against the H1N1 flu strain (swine flu – “gripe suína”), which is very dangerous for pregnant women.

Health authorities have explained that the vaccine is harmless and that babies can undergo vaccination without problems. “The vaccine is safe as it uses dead viruses that cannot affect the baby,” declared Dr Rafael de Aguiar Barbosa, the DF Secretary of Health. “We also want to remind people that there were grave cases of H1N1 infection among pregnant women when we had an outbreak recently. We believe that only 51% of pregnant women in Brasilia were vaccinated last year.”

People who should get the vaccine, besides pregnant women, are senior citizens over the age of 60, children between the ages of 6 months and two years. According to Dr Barbosa, the aim of the campaign in Brasilia is to vaccinate over 258,000 people. Around 158,000 senior citizens and 52,000 children. Nationwide the goal is to vaccinate senior citizens, Indians, children and healthcare providers.

A total of 65,000 vaccination centers will operate from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays from May 5 to 25 around the country.