Brazil rolls out 20‑valent Pneumo vaccine for children and at‑risk groups

Brazil's Ministry of Health announced that the 20‑valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumo 20) will begin distribution to basic health units in mid‑June 2024. The vaccine, which covers 20 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, replaces the earlier 10‑valent formulation and aims to protect children under five, indigenous people over five, seniors in care facilities, and individuals with special clinical conditions. An initial batch of 514,000 doses has already been sent to states, with a target of more than 6.1 million doses for the year.

In the state of Goiás, the new vaccine arrived in Goiânia as health authorities confront a surge in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SRAG) cases, reporting 4,539 incidents this year, many among young children. Local health officials highlighted low seasonal flu vaccination coverage—34.8% among priority groups and just 24.7% among children—underscoring the need for broader immunisation to curb hospitalisations and deaths from pneumococcal disease.