Brazil Pushes Vaccination Drives as Polio Coverage Falls Short

Overview

• Since November 2024 Brazil uses only the inactivated polio vaccine (VIP) and the recommended schedule is doses at 2, 4 and 6 months with boosters at 15 months and 4 years.
• The country has not detected circulation of wild poliovirus since 1990 and received OPAS certification in 1994, but officials say vigilance must continue.
• National vaccination coverage has remained below the 95% target since 2016, which health authorities say leaves a real risk of resurgence if gaps persist.
• Health teams in the Federal District ran World Polio Day vaccination sites urging children missing the second booster at age 4 to attend and requiring ID and a parent or guardian while lost vaccination cards are not a barrier.
• Poliovirus spreads mainly by the fecal-oral route, there is no antiviral cure, about one in 200 infections can cause permanent paralysis, and prevention relies on vaccination, hygiene and access to safe water.