The towns of Itajaí and Balneario Camboriu on the northern coast of Santa Catarina have begun offering booster shots of the bivalent Covid-19 vaccine to priority groups. Older people over 60 and immunocompromised people over 12 who received their last dose of bivalent more than six months ago can now be vaccinated.

Intensified use of the bivalent vaccine is recommended for priority groups. Photo: Itajaí Town Hall/Reproduction/ND

Technical Note 83/2023 issued by the Ministry of Health provides for revaccination as part of the complete Covid-19 vaccination schedule, which now consists of two doses of a monovalent immunizer and two doses of a bivalent immunizer for priority groups whose last dose was administered more than six months ago.

The bivalent vaccine protects the body against the original Covid-19 virus (Sars-CoV-2), as well as its various strains, being an updated version of previous vaccines.

Bivalent immunization is important to prevent coronavirus variants. The booster also helps prevent serious cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from the disease.

The region has already begun to offer increased vaccination

In Itajaí, vaccination began this Monday (11) in all 31 vaccination offices of the municipality, according to the opening hours of each office and depending on the availability of doses.

In Balneario Camboriu, immunization began on Thursday (7) and is available at all vaccination clinics in basic health facilities from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00, with the exception of UBS Central, which is not closed for lunch .