Brazil's SUS Introduces 20‑Valent Pneumococcal Vaccine for Children

The Brazilian public health system (SUS) has begun offering a new 20‑valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (VPC20) to infants from two months of age, with booster doses up to 23 months. The vaccine protects against 20 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae, including the previously uncovered serotypes 19A and 3, and aims to reduce cases of pneumonia, meningitis, otitis and sinusitis, especially as winter approaches.

Health officials highlighted the addition as a major advance, with Juarez Cunha of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations stating, "It is a very important progress against this bacteria, which continues to cause a series of diseases among children."

SUS already provides more than 30 free vaccines nationwide, covering diseases such as hepatitis B, BCG, polio, meningitis, measles, HPV, dengue, influenza, COVID‑19 and others. Aline Amanda Ferreira, a nursing coordinator at a São Paulo health unit, urged families to keep vaccination cards up to date, noting that timely immunisation protects both individuals and the broader community.