Brazil ramps up measles dose‑zero shots and introduces 20‑valent pneumococcal vaccine

The State Health Secretariat of São Paulo confirmed three new measles cases in infants aged 6 months to 1 year, bringing the state's 2026 total to five. Two of the children were unvaccinated. In response, the Ministry of Health and the São Paulo State Health Department recommended an additional “dose‑zero” of the triple‑viral vaccine for infants 6 months to 11 months 29 days in São Paulo and neighboring Guarulhos, with about 100 000 doses allocated to curb transmission and protect the most vulnerable age group.

Separate campaigns extended the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination window for adolescents aged 15‑19. Municipal health secretaries in Palmeira dos Índios (Alagoas), the Federal District, and Goiânia announced that the temporary expansion ends on 30 June, after which the vaccine will revert to the regular 9‑14 year schedule. The campaigns aim to immunize youths who missed the routine series and reduce HPV‑related cancers.

Brazil also began rolling out the 20‑valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (Pneumo 20) in several cities. Campinas, Cuiabá, Campina Grande, and Capivari started offering the new vaccine to children under five, replacing the older 10‑valent product through a phased schedule (2 months – Pneumo 20, 4 months – Pneumo 10, 12 months – Pneumo 20). Health officials emphasize its broader serotype coverage to lower severe pneumonia, meningitis and related hospitalisations.

In Cuiabá, the municipal hospital launched its third internal health‑and‑environment week (SISMA) to promote waste‑management best practices and sustainability in healthcare facilities, reinforcing the broader public‑health agenda.