Brazilian cities broaden influenza shot program amid low uptake

Municipal health authorities in several Brazilian towns have expanded the seasonal influenza vaccination campaign. In São Gonçalo do Rio Abaixo and São Gonçalo, the target population was widened to include anyone aged six months or older, with free doses offered through Family Health Strategy teams. A similar effort in São José do Cedro delivered the vaccine directly to seniors during a community meeting. Despite these expansions, a recent report showed that five municipalities in the São Paulo region failed to reach the national goal of 90 % coverage among priority groups, with participation as low as 33 % in some cities. To boost uptake, Cachoeirinha organised a pop‑up clinic at a shopping centre, inviting the whole population for free vaccination. Parallel public‑health actions include Salvador’s citywide antirabies campaign for dogs and cats, Ribeirão Preto’s intensified surveillance and catch‑up vaccination against measles, and Fiocruz’s report of a nationwide decline in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections among children under two. These initiatives aim to increase herd immunity and reduce severe cases, hospitalisations and deaths from vaccine‑preventable diseases.