Rio de Janeiro expands JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine for immunosuppressed individuals

The vaccine is safe, effective against the circulating variant and helps reduce the risk of hospitalization and mortality from the disease - Edu Kapps/SMS

The Municipal Health Department (SMS) will begin offering the JN.4 COVID-8 variant vaccine to immunosuppressed individuals this Monday (August 1). The vaccine is available at all 19 vaccination centers in the city, including the Super Carioca Vaccination Center in Botafogo and the ParkShoppingCampoGrande vaccination center in the West Zone. With the arrival of new doses, other priority groups will be vaccinated.

People with immunosuppression have weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections and disease. This condition can be caused by illnesses, medication use, or medical procedures that reduce the body's ability to fight infectious agents such as the COVID-19 virus.

The city of Rio has already vaccinated elderly residents of Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) and the over-60 group. Other groups will be vaccinated in a staggered manner, based on the Ministry of Health's supply of doses and established guidelines. The vaccine is safe and prevents the most recent circulating COVID-19 variant, JN.1, reducing the risk of hospitalization and mortality from the disease. In addition to the campaign vaccination, routine COVID-19 vaccination for children up to 5 years of age has also been administered with the JN.1 vaccine.

In addition to the COVID-19 vaccine, it is also important to get vaccinated against influenza to prevent the disease and its complications. The flu campaign is currently underway for all people over six months of age.