SUS already offers a vaccine that prevents four types of meningitis – Horizons

The Unified Health System (SUS) began to make available in all Basic Units (UBS) the ACWY (conjugate) vaccine for adolescents aged 11 and 12 years. Therefore, the basic vaccination schedule has been expanded with the meningitis vaccine A, C, W, and Y.

According to the State Coordinator of the SES-MG Immunization Program, Josianne Dias Gusmão, the choice of this target group to receive the vaccine took into account the severity of the disease and the carrier status of adolescents.

“Immunization programs generally target populations considered to be at increased risk of developing the disease or preventing carrier status. Based on the evidence, considering the implementation and continuity of vaccination strategies against meningococcal diseases (DM), SUS begins to make available the ACWY (conjugate) meningococcal vaccine for these adolescents, ”explained Josianne Dias Gusmão.

The objective of the Ministry of Health is to vaccinate a percentage equal to or greater than 80% of adolescents in this age group in the country. This corresponds to 5,621,137 people. In Minas, there are 337,893 11-year-old adolescents and 347,407 12-year-olds, a total of 685,300 young people who must receive the vaccine in the state.

Currently, the National Vaccination Program (PNI) makes available, through SUS, in the Basic Vaccination Calendar, vaccines that protect against various agents that cause meningitis. They are: BCG (tuberculous meningitis), triple viral (measles and mumps meningitis), pentavalent (Haemophilus influenzae b meningitis in children under 5 years old), conjugated meningococcal C and 10-pneumococcal vaccines (pneumococcal meningitis – 10 types). .

These vaccines are considered of primary interest for Brazilian public health, since they protect against the main types of meningococcal diseases (DM).

The illness

Meningitis is a disease defined by inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, called meninges, and can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.

The symptoms of meningitis can come on suddenly and are characterized by fever, headache, stiffness or pain in the neck, nausea, and vomiting. Red spots may also appear in the more severe forms of the disease, in addition to mental confusion, drowsiness, and difficulty waking up.

Historically, the incidence of DM is highest among children younger than one year, with a second peak, in adolescents and young adults. Following the introduction of the Meningococcal C Conjugate Vaccine in 2010, there was a significant reduction in serogroup C incidence coefficients (DM) for serogroup C in the target age groups for vaccination.