How does it work and who should take?

Began this Monday (7) the national vaccination campaign against influenza. The goal is to immunize 90% of so -called priority groups, including children from 6 months to less than 6, older and pregnant women.

According to the Ministry of Health, the immunisator, which is distributed in the public network, protects against a total of three influenza viruses and ensures a reduction in the risk of serious cases and deaths from the disease.

In 2025, the dose contains the following tribes: H1N1, H3N2 and B. Administration, according to the Ministry, can be done together with other vaccines from the national vaccination calendar.

According to Rosana Richtmann, a doctor’s infectologist and consultant on DASA vaccines, the most important news in the vaccination campaign this year is exactly the introduction of the vaccine in the national vaccination calendar for children from 6 months to under 6 years, pregnant and older from 60 years.

Read more: Influenza vaccination campaign begins this Monday (7)

“This means that these priority groups will have access to the vaccine throughout the year, and not just during the season campaign, which expands protection and facilitates access to immunizers,” he says.

The flu vaccine can also be taken in private health, whose distribution is made in specialized clinics or pharmacies, for example. The infectologist explains that the difference in the immunizer offered in the private network is that they are quadrivalent vaccines, that is, that protect against the same three tricks (available in the public network), another further stammering of B (Yamagata) virus, which offers a wider coverage.

“There is also the high dose flu vaccine should be the favorable alternative for people 60 or older. The immunisator, found in the private health system, contains four times more antigens than the standard version and offers greater protection for a population that has reduced the immune response due to aging,” Rosana says.

Experts warn that influenza vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent illness, which can be developed into serious paintings, especially among the older population.

Is the flu differ from cold?

According to Filipe Piastrelli, infectologist and coordinator for hospital infection control service for the German hospital Oswaldo Cruz, the influenza is a transmitted respiratory infection that usually causes symptoms such as:

• slip,
• fever,
• headache,
• body pain,
• cough,
• discomfort.

In general, light cases last from three to five days, but it is not possible to predict how each person will develop. Therefore, the doctor warns, it is a mistake to face the flu as a simple unclear.

“Influenza virus can trigger a systemic inflammatory process in the body. In more vulnerable groups such as elderly or people with chronic diseases, this can lead to serious complications such as viral pneumonia and favor cardiovascular events such as infarction and stroke, due to inflammatory response and changes in blood clamp,” explain the infective.

According to Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System (Sivep-Gripe) 2024 rose hospital inserts through severe acute respiratory syndrome (SRAG) caused by influenza in people 60 or older 189%, with 157%growth in death and mortality of 21.7%. On average, one in five elderly who is assumed by the flu could not resist.

Also read: Vaccine is allied to life span, experts say

The expert explains that the flu vaccine consists of inactive viruses, that is, it has no ability to cause the disease. “What can happen is that the person is vaccinated and in this range exposed to another respiratory virus that is in circulation. But the flu is not caused by the vaccine,” explains Piastrelli.

The negative effects of the vaccine are lightweight and passengers, such as application site pain, low fever, headache and body and affect about 1% of vaccinated people. Contraindications are rare and include severe allergic reactions to previous doses or eggs.

Awareness

Despite the safety and efficiency of the vaccine, adult adhesion is still affected by error information. “Websites such as the Health of Health and Brazilian Society for Immunization (SBIM) offer the most accurate information. In addition, well-informed healthcare professionals are more likely to recommend vaccines properly and fight error information among their patients,” Piastrelli adds.

Geriatrics and chairman of the Immunization Committee for Brazilian society for geriatrics and gerontology (SBGG), Maisa Kairalla, also points out that there must be a collective awareness work, involving different fronts – and communication is among the most important.

The doctor points out that in addition to the existing campaigns, the doctor must explain in a simpler way for everyone to understand the importance of vaccination and the serious risks of the flu, as the population tends to treat this disease as simple.

Maisa further strengthens the importance of vaccination not only of the 60+ population, as well as all people who are part of older elderly people, such as children, grandchildren and health care providers.

“By 2024, there was a decrease in the vaccination rate, which caused more than 150% of cases of seriously acute respiratory syndrome (SRAG), which is quite worrying. And in the autumn in vaccination occurred at a time when people again cluster, which further aggravates the situation,” comments the expert.

Learn more: Influenza in the elderly increased 157% in 2024; Hospital Modes Step 189%

According to Geriatra, the ideal for people is to vaccinate in April, months before the start of winter, so that during the coldest season of the year there are fewer viruses circulating.

“Good vaccine is in the arm. So anyone who fights against the flu is worth it and can be found in the basic health units,” he says, commenting that the same care is true for the elderly with diseases such as HIV, diabetes and cancer.

Public health campaign

In March, the Ministry of Health began to distribute 35 million doses of the vaccine. During the first half, 67.6 million will be distributed to the four regions. In the second, another 5.9 million doses for the northern region, adapted the immunization strategy with the period with the largest circulation of the virus in each region. The total amount for investment is $ 1.3 billion. The total audience is 81.6 million people.

The campaign is divided into two moments:

• First semester: Vaccination in the south, southeast, Midwest and northeastern regions;
• Second semester: Vaccination in the Northern Region, during the so -called “Amazonian Winter” when there is greater circulation of the virus.

According to the Ministry of Health, the flu vaccine can avoid between 60% and 70% of serious cases and deaths. It is contraindicated only for children under 6 months and people with a history of severe anaphylaxis after previous doses.

Read more: Dengue Vaccine: Who can take and what health plans cover?

The infectologist Rosana Richtmann warns that those with a moderate or severe fever or illness should postpone vaccination until recovery. “So that there is no confusion between symptoms of the disease and any side effects on the vaccine,” he says.

In addition to priority groups already included in the national vaccination calendar, for example 6 months old children to under 6, pregnant women and the elderly from 60 years, the target group for strategy also consists of:

• Healthcare professionals
• Puerper
• Teachers in basic and superior teachings
• Indigenous peoples
• Homeless
• Security and rescue forces professionals
• Armed Forces Professionals
• Persons with non -infectious chronic diseases and other special clinical conditions (regardless of age)
• Persons with permanent disabilities
• Truck
• Collective road transport workers (urban and long course)
• Harbor workers
• Employees in the deputy system
• Private population of freedom and adolescents and young people under socio education measures (between 12 and 21 years).