Brazil rolls out nationwide multivaccination drive with new 20‑valent pneumococcal vaccine

The São Paulo municipal health department began administering the 20‑valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine to children under five on 20 June, replacing the former 10‑valent formulation. About 26,890 doses supplied by the Ministry of Health are expected to protect roughly 116 000 children in the city by the end of 2026.

In Patos de Minas, a “Dia D” multivaccination event was scheduled for the same day, but officials said the new Pneumo 20 vaccine had not yet arrived, so it will not be offered there. Barbacena announced that Pneumo 20 will enter the SUS routine on 24 June, extending protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae to local children.

Across the state of Minas Gerais, the health secretariat coordinated a massive “Dia D” on 20 June, with 814 municipalities (95 % of the state) opening health units, mobile clinics and other sites to update vaccine cards for children and adolescents under 15. Similar campaigns were reported in Contagem, Poços de Caldas, Vila Velha and other Brazilian towns, offering the full range of vaccines listed in the 2026 National Immunization Calendar.

The coordinated effort aims to boost coverage rates that have risen in recent years, with many pediatric vaccines now exceeding 90 % of target levels in Minas Gerais.