João Pessoa urges influenza shots to cut severe respiratory risks

The municipal health department of João Pessoa, Brazil, is urging residents to receive the free influenza vaccine offered through the public health system (SUS). The campaign stresses that vaccination helps prevent severe forms of flu, reducing hospital admissions, complications such as pneumonia, respiratory failure and deaths.

Officials highlighted priority groups – young children, pregnant and postpartum women, the elderly and people with chronic conditions – who are at higher risk of serious outcomes. The trivalent vaccine protects against influenza A H1N1, A H3N2 and a B lineage. Health authorities also reminded citizens that the same public facilities provide other vaccines, including COVID‑19, HPV and respiratory syncytial virus, following national guidelines.