Petropolis notes

Vaccines

The use of booster doses is crucial to controlling COVID-19

Low adherence in the commune may compromise the preferred disease scenario

Photo: archive

Daniel Xavier – Trainee

Just yesterday (27), the municipality of Petropolis started applying bivalent booster doses to the elderly 70 years of age or older, immunocompromised individuals over 12 years of age with a medical report, quilombolas and persons over 12 and those living in long-term institutions. Pfizer’s immunization, resulting from updated strains of the coronavirus (which works against the Omicron variant, by the way), is part of the new phase of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which aims to ensure greater coverage in the population – also as greater protection.

Therefore, the Municipal Health Secretariat (SMS), in addition to the introduction of the vaccine in health centers, has carried out the peripatetic immunization in all areas, a measure that has proved necessary in the city when the vaccine scale plate in the institution itself reveals that: until the last fourteenth day, no The application of the third dose to more than 102 thousand citizens, given the estimation of 263 thousand people aged 12 years and over, only 161 thousand were made.

With reference to the second booster dose (the fourth dose), the population is estimated at 242,154 people over the age of 18, while the total immunized remains at 83,855 people to date. Then the numbers show that only 34% of the target audience received the vaccine, which represents 158,000 citizens who were not vaccinated, which is a serious disparity compared to the third dose.

epidemic fatigue

For José Henrique de Cunto, an infectious disease specialist who works in the municipality, the low adherence to reinforcement is due to the so-called “epidemic fatigue”, which characterizes fatigue and lack of interest in the subject, and thus affects the care related to the disease. health crisis. “We are exhausted. The deprivation of going out, partying, or even living fully has exhausted everyone. And after three years of living with a sense of constant danger, in addition to being bombarded with alarming news on a daily basis regarding the virus, it is understandable that in the face of a more favorable pandemic scenario, People behave in a more relaxed and carefree way, ”he comments.

For this reason, Cristina Barros, a specialist in health management and a member of the Coronavirus Committee at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), says that it is necessary to educate one more firmly regarding the virus. “It should be noted that the epidemic, although it is under control, is not over yet. There are countries where the virus still poses a threat, however, variants can always appear and make news both in the transmission profile and in the severity. In light of this scenario, It is important to stress that prevention is always better than cure,” she points out.

joining

However, although he agrees with the importance of immunization, José Henrique de Conto says that with large municipal coverage, associated with “herd immunization” – which, according to him, is the production of antibodies associated with early contact with the virus – already guarantees great safety. , making the vaccine presentation sufficient. “I think that the work of roving vaccination is effective in itself. It confirms that taking it to those who want and need it, and thus ensuring that the application is made in all provinces is a measure that really provides unique protection against the Corona virus.” “In addition, the long-term contact with the disease also helps, because our bodies are already producing antibodies to the virus even before vaccination begins,” he adds.

However, Barros disagrees with the infection specialist’s perception, pointing out that in addition to presentation, information must be substantively factored into the vaccination campaign. He also adds that despite the favorable scenario, the pandemic still remains a serious public health problem. Take, for example, polio: with adherence declining over the years, the virus has been detected in some countries again, putting the disease at risk of resurgence. So we can’t act the same way with covid. It is necessary to show that it is still dangerous, and that now, as it becomes part of the group of respiratory diseases, it can lead to death, ”he defends. He concludes by saying: “We cannot let the ball drop, we have to reach as much as possible Coverage, because only then will we be able to continue to live normally.”