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Rio de Janeiro begins updated COVID-19 vaccination program for the elderly and pregnant women.
Published on 12/05/2026 - 18:11 | Updated
Everyone aged 70 or older can now protect themselves with the COVID-19 vaccine - Rafael Catarcione/Rio City Hall The Rio de Janeiro Municipal Health Department (SMS) will begin the updated vaccination campaign against the LP8.1 strain of COVID-19 on Wednesday (May 13th). In this first phase, immunization will be aimed at seniors aged 70 and over and pregnant women. Other age groups will be included in the coming weeks, in a phased manner, according to the schedule for sending doses from the Ministry of Health. For children aged 6 months to 5 years, the baby vaccine is already updated with the LP8.1 strain and is available for routine vaccination.
– It is important to remember that the COVID-19 virus continues to circulate and cause severe cases, especially among the most vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and pregnant women. Every year we need to update our COVID-19 immunization, just as we do with the flu. Therefore, we are calling on residents of Rio de Janeiro to protect themselves and their families by getting the updated vaccine against the LP8.1 strain, starting now with people aged 70 and over and pregnant women, and scaling up to other groups in the coming weeks, according to the Ministry of Health's schedule – says the municipal health secretary, Rodrigo Prado.
The vaccine is safe and the only way to prevent and reduce the risk of hospitalization and mortality from the disease. The adult COVID-19 LP8.1 vaccine is available at all 241 Primary Care units (family clinics and municipal health centers) in the city and at the Super Centro Carioca de Vacinação units in Botafogo (open every day from 8 am to 22 pm), in the West Zone (at ParkShoppingCampoGrande, following the shopping mall's opening hours) and in the North Zone (Shopping Nova América). To find the nearest Primary Care unit, simply access the Onde Ser Atendido portal: prefecture.rio/ondeseratendido.
In addition to COVID-19, it is important to get vaccinated against other diseases, such as influenza, yellow fever, and measles. In the case of the flu vaccine, a disease whose peak season occurs in the autumn and winter months, the campaign is aimed at all people from six months of age. It is also essential that pregnant women from the 28th week of gestation onwards get vaccinated against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) to prevent severe forms of bronchiolitis in babies, a disease that usually sees an increase in cases at this time of year.
Regarding measles and yellow fever, vaccines are available for those who have never received them or who meet other conditions included in the vaccination schedule. If in doubt, the user should seek guidance from a health unit.
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