How São Paulo Became ‘The World’s Vaccine Capital’

Many non-Brazilians, even epidemiologists, were astonished by the announcement in November 2021 that São Paulo had achieved common full vaccination of adults towards Covid-19. In spite of everything, São Paulo is without doubt one of the 5 largest cities on the planet, creating potential logistical challenges to attending to 100%.

Throughout the nation, there have been political obstacles to beat as properly. President Jair Bolsonaro has been spouting ludicrous misinformation all through the pandemic, in addition to delaying vaccination. (Extra just lately, he’s fiercely opposed the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11, which started in January 2022.) But most Bolsonaro supporters have ignored his vaccine-related rantings.

Total, Brazil’s excessive vaccination protection shouldn’t come as a shock.

Though there are in fact pockets of vaccine hesitancy, in addition to deep well being disparities, Brazil has had a robust tradition of vaccination for years. That is linked to the strength of government institutions. The campaigns and necessities of the general public well being system, public faculties and public help packages have contributed to the utter normalization of vaccination.

“Brazil and São Paulo have at all times been a mannequin of fantastic vaccination campaigns by the common well being protection system, low vaccination hesitancy and nice uptake,” in keeping with Otavio T. Ranzani, an epidemiology researcher on the College of São Paulo (in addition to an assistant professor on the Barcelona Institute for International Well being). And, “sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the São Paulo inhabitants to a terrific extent, which is an element to inspire the vaccination fee.”

Brazil, like some other countries, even has a vaccine mascot. Since 1985, the character Zé Gotinha (Droplet Joe) has helped overcome suspicion of publication vaccination packages – though Bolsonaro’s administration has restricted his position in the course of the pandemic.

Vaccine acceptance is excessive throughout Brazil. In keeping with the US-based Institute for Well being Metrics and Analysis (IHME), as of December 23, 2021, 92% of individuals aged 12 and up in Brazil mentioned that they’d settle for or most likely settle for a Covid-19 vaccine. In no state was the share decrease than 80%. (Another Latin American nations even have excessive vaccine acceptance charges – reaching 100% in Brazil’s neighbors Colombia and Argentina.)

Eagerness to be vaccinated has been excessive all through the pandemic. In January 2021, 89.5% of Brazilians surveyed online mentioned they supposed to be vaccinated towards Covid-19.

This doesn’t essentially translate into excessive precise vaccination, partly as a result of provide points. As of December 13, in keeping with IHME information, 62% of individuals in Brazil had been totally vaccinated, whereas 72% had acquired just one dose.

To some extent Brazilians have been hitting the street to acquire entry. The truth is, São Paulo’s vaccination fee exceeds 101% due to non-residents touring there to get jabbed. Town has lengthy been a magnet for migrants and guests.

The Covid-19 vaccines utilized in Brazil haven’t always been the ones with the highest effectiveness. But even the lower-efficacy vaccines have helped to carry caseloads down, for instance in Serrana in São Paulo State. In in São Paulo, the distribution of higher-efficacy vaccines have helped to dramatically bring down coronavirus infections and hospitalizations.

In keeping with Ranzani, “The vaccination success was in a position to lower the burden of the Gamma wave in São Paulo, which was huge. One other exceptional success that occurred in São Paulo and different locations was the containment of the Delta unfold, leading to a a lot decrease variety of circumstances, hospitalizations and deaths than anticipated.”

The velocity and breadth of the vaccine rollout boosted São Paulo’s vaccination fee. “There was a fast and coordinated allocation of doses,” Ranzani feedback. Vaccination was made broadly accessible, when it comes to time (weekends, holidays, generally 24 hours a day); location (cell models); and outreach to weak populations (homeless, these with overdue second doses).

Nonetheless, extraordinarily excessive vaccination isn’t a panacea. In a press briefing on January 12, Carissa F. Etienne, the director of the Pan American Well being Group, said that Omicron “has led to an increase in re-infections, even amongst those that are totally vaccinated. This new wave of infections, it received’t be ‘delicate’ for our well being methods because the Omicron variant is already difficult our well being workforce and limiting take care of different ailments.”

And Ranzani notes, “I don’t suppose we should always think about the idea of ‘herd immunity’ as a public well being purpose at this second. The arrival and unfold of Omicron has proven it clearly once more.” Throughout Brazil, booster shot coverage is currently low.

But because it strikes into new phases of the pandemic, São Paulo is demonstrating {that a} robust public well being service and legacy of vaccination can supersede politics to guard as many individuals as potential.