2024 has already started with achievements in the area of ​​health and science. Dourados, a city in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, will be the pioneer in mass vaccination once morest dengue. The long-awaited action begins this Wednesday (3) in 35 health centers in the region.

Immunization will be available from 10am to any citizen, aged between 4 and 59, who brings identification and proof of residence in Dourados, the second largest city in the state. The forecast is to vaccinate at least 150,000 residents in the city, which has a total of 243,368 inhabitants.

200 km from Campo Grande, the state capital, Dourados had the privilege of inaugurating immunization in the country due to having entered into a partnership with the Japanese laboratory Takeda, which is developing the samples of the Qdenga vaccine, which is made up of four different serotypes of the virusand also made syringes and needles available.

This action has been planned since December, when the Ministry of Health announced the incorporation of the vaccine into the National Immunization Plan (PNI). The vaccine was sold on the private network for R$450. Two doses will be administered by the public network, three months apart.

The vaccine can be applied to anyone who has already had the disease. According to clinical trials, the effectiveness is 80.2% over 12 months, reducing hospitalizations by 90%.

For other states in Brazil, the vaccine will begin to be distributed in February. The schedule foresees vaccinating 3.1 million people initially and making 6.2 million doses available throughout 2024, in the months of March, May, August, September and November.