SÃO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) - The Ministry of Health recommends that people who do not live in São Paulo, Guarulhos and São Bernardo do Campo, but work daily or occasionally in these municipalities, also get vaccinated against measles. The guidance expands the target audience given the circulation of the virus in the three cities, which concentrate the confirmed cases in the country this year.
Ministry recommends measles vaccine for anyone visiting São Paulo, São Bernardo and Guarulhos
SÃO PAULO, SP (FOLHAPRESS) - The Ministry of Health recommends that people who do not live in São Paulo, Guarulhos and São Bernardo do Campo, but work daily or occasionally in these municipalities, also get vaccinated against measles. The...
Since the beginning of this month, the Ministry of Health has recommended vaccinating people aged 6 months to 59 years against measles in the three cities. Even those who have been vaccinated before or have had the disease should get vaccinated.
- According to the State Department of Health, there are 23 cases of measles in the state, 20 in the capital, two in São Bernardo and one in Guarulhos.
- Two are imported, that is, contracted outside the country, and the others are related to import, contagion occurring here from an external source.
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Since the beginning of this month, the Ministry of Health has recommended vaccinating people aged 6 months to 59 years against measles in the three cities. Even those who have been vaccinated before or have had the disease should get vaccinated.
According to the State Department of Health, there are 23 cases of measles in the state, 20 in the capital, two in São Bernardo and one in Guarulhos. Two are imported, that is, contracted outside the country, and the others are related to import, contagion occurring here from an external source.
Brazil was already considered measles-free, lost the certificate in 2019, after an outbreak that started in São Paulo, and regained it in 2024. In 2025, 38 imported cases did not evolve into outbreaks. The authorities' fear is that the current circulation, linked to strains coming from the United States and Canada, will reopen this path.
Measles vaccination is part of the Multivaccination Campaign, from August 3rd to September 1st. In a situation where the virus is circulating, children aged 6 to 11 months can also receive an extra dose, the so-called zero dose, which does not replace the doses provided for in the calendar.
In the rest of the state and the country, vaccination is still recommended for those aged six months to 59 years and who have never been immunized against the disease, after checking their records.
During a visit to the UBS (Basic Care Unit) Jardim Castro Alves, in Grajaú, south of the capital, this Saturday (15), Minister Alexandre Padilha said that the mobilization of the three cities, with support from the Ministry, should contain the cases, as occurred last year.
"This firm action by the local SUS, to vaccinate people, to guide people, will win this battle again", stated the minister at a press conference. Padilha associated the rise in cases in North American countries, mainly in the United States, with anti-vaccine movements.
"Countries contaminated by the anti-vaccine movement, such as the United States, are currently experiencing the largest measles outbreak in the last 35 years," he said.
The State Secretariat reported that around 660,000 doses of the MMR were administered in the three cities since August 3, 500,000 in the capital, 90,000 in Guarulhos and 70,000 in São Bernardo. It also states that the 645 municipalities in São Paulo are supplied.
The Ministry of Health claims to have distributed more than 10 million doses in the country in 2026, with around 3.6 million applied, and allocated 3.2 million to reinforce the stock.
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