Nova Iguaçu launches Pneumo 20 vaccine for children under five

Starting on 24 June, the municipal health system of Nova Iguaçu began offering the new Pneumo 20 vaccine to children under five years of age at six vaccination points. The 20‑valent pneumococcal vaccine protects against 20 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, which cause severe illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis and ear infections. The rollout follows a transitional schedule: the first dose of Pneumo 20 is given at two months, the second dose of Pneumo 10 at four months, and a booster dose of Pneumo 20 at twelve months. The vaccine is provided free of charge through the public SUS system; parents must present the child’s vaccination card or a photo ID. The municipal health secretary, Luiz Carlos Nobre Cavalcanti, highlighted the vaccine as a major tool to reduce hospitalisations and deaths from pneumococcal disease.

The campaign also extends to other priority groups, including Indigenous children without prior pneumococcal immunisation, institutionalised elderly and people with special clinical conditions. The municipality aims to integrate Pneumo 20 fully into the routine childhood immunisation schedule once existing stocks of the older 10‑valent vaccine are exhausted.