The occupancy rate of intensive care beds in public hospitals in Santa Catarina remains above 90%. The SES (State Department of Health) bed panel, updated on Tuesday morning (26), shows an overall rate of 94.72%. Pediatric and neonatal intensive care beds also have occupancy rates of over 90%, according to the platform.

Only 600 children aged 3 and 4 have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in Santa Catarina until this Tuesday (26) – Photo: João Pedro Bressan/Caxias do Sul City Hall/Reproduction/ND

Parallel to this scenario, the vaccination of children aged three to four against Covid-19 is slowly moving forward in Santa Catarina. The SES vaccinometer indicates that only 606 children of this age group were vaccinated until this Tuesday, that is, 0.30% of the target audience.

The state has an average of 200,000 children between the ages of three and four. Vaccination of the population began a week ago, on July 19. The group’s authorized immunizer is Coronavac.

Concerns about low adherence

SES said it was concerned about the low adherence to childhood immunization against Covid-19 and stressed that Coronavac vaccination of children is extremely safe and effective.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, 11,943 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in children aged three to four years, of which 190 have been hospitalized, and six have died from the disease.

“In addition, many children recovering from Covid may develop pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome (P-SIM) in addition to long-term Covid causing chronic health problems,” he added.

The folder also states that new actions to increase vaccine coverage for children, including Covid-19, will be discussed at the CIB (Bilateral Inter-Governmental Commission) meeting next Thursday (28).

ICU Status

Of the 1,099 active ICU beds in Santa Catarina, there are 58. The numbers do not mean that there is availability for those who need it, as the beds have features that serve different diseases. Burns and respiratory illnesses are examples of emergencies that require special beds.

The total occupancy of the Grand Oeste region reached 98.8%. Further, the highest rates are in Greater Florianopolis, Planalto Norte and North East, with 98.4% and 95.2% respectively.

Panel of shared intensive care beds in SC – Photo: SES/Disclosure/ND

Taking into account only beds for newborns, there are 195 active departments in Santa Catarina. Of these, five are available, corresponding to an occupancy rate of 97.44%.

In the hospitals of Grande Oeste, Planalto Norte and Nordeste, Foz do Rio Itajaí and Grande Florianopolis, the neonatal intensive care units are full.

Also, according to the group, the pediatric ICU bed occupancy rate in Santa Catarina is 90.6%. There are eleven out of 117 active beds. The regions of Grande Florianopolis, Grande Oeste and Sul have reached the maximum capacity for this bed type.

wait for the bed

The data, updated on Tuesday morning, shows there are no patients waiting for a place in Santa Catarina’s pediatric and neonatal intensive care unit.

The two-month-old boy, who was waiting for a place in the neonatal intensive care unit last weekend, managed to get a bed at the Santa Catarina Children’s Hospital in Crisium.

At the moment, the patient is looking for a bed in the adult intensive care unit in specialized hospitals, the bed has already been offered and is awaiting the transfer procedure. According to the SES, the patient needs a specialized bed and this is not a respiratory disease. It is located in Serra Santa Catarina.

98 beds opened in 30 days

The SES reported that over the past 30 days, 98 beds have been opened in the state. Of these, 75 are neonatal and pediatric units: 27 from the pediatric intensive care unit, 28 from the neonatal intensive care unit, 15 from the pediatric intermediate care unit and five from the neonatal intermediate care unit.

The ministry also said it is working on a contingency plan, in addition to what has already been developed in hospitals and municipalities, to expand pediatric beds throughout Santa Catarina.

On July 13, a public notice was issued for the urgent hiring of 20 pediatricians to be called immediately to the Joan de Gusmão Children’s Hospital. Of these, 13 vacancies have already been filled.

In addition to this new public notice, specialists who had registered in previous selection processes were also called, namely: 16 nurses and 53 nurses. In just 10 days, the department received 82 medical workers, including doctors, nurses and technicians.

Until September, 27 neonatal and 2 pediatric intensive care units, as well as 16 pediatric and 3 neonatal intermediate care units will be open.

The situation faced by public and private hospitals, which even led to the declaration of an emergency at the beginning of June this year, is a reflection of the low vaccination coverage against various diseases, especially influenza (flu) and Covid-19. During this season, respiratory diseases most affect children and the elderly, the two most vulnerable groups.