Rio reinforces measles vaccination at airports and bus station.

With the occurrence of new cases of measles in the state of São Paulo, totaling 16, the Municipal Health Department of Rio (SMS) begins this Thursday (6) an intensification of immunization against the disease at the main entry and exit points of the city. Vaccination points will be set up at Antônio Carlos Jobim (Galeão) and Santos Dumont airports and at the Rio Bus Station. The objective is to ensure that people up to 59 years old, going to or returning from São Paulo and other locations, can be protected, preventing the circulation of the virus in the city. In addition, the Multivaccination Campaign continues in all Primary Care units, to update the vaccination records of children and adolescents.

The three vaccination points will operate until August 14th and will also offer vaccines against yellow fever and influenza. At Galeão Airport, the vaccination point will be set up in the arrivals area of ​​Terminal 2 and will operate from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 16 pm, and on Saturday from 8 am to 12 pm. At the Rio Bus Station, it will be on the second floor, near the escalators, operating from Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 16 pm, and on Saturday from 8 am to 13 pm. At Santos Dumont Airport, it will be located in the arrivals area of ​​gate A, from Monday to Friday, from 7 am to 16 pm, and on Saturday from 7 am to 12 pm.

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease that was once a leading cause of infant mortality worldwide. Despite significant advances in control and prevention through vaccination, the disease still poses a public health challenge, especially in regions with low immunization rates. The virus is transmitted from person to person through the air by coughing, sneezing, talking, or breathing. A single infected person can transmit the disease to several nearby people who are not immune. The primary form of prevention is vaccination.

– In Rio, we take great care to facilitate access to immunization and maintain high vaccination coverage, especially among children. We have initiatives such as the "Vaccine at School" program and the GeoVaccine tool, which guides us in actively searching for children who may be behind on any vaccinations. And, aimed at adults, we regularly set up vaccination points in high-traffic areas. With these three new vaccination points, at the bus station and airports, we are concentrating our efforts on the main entry and exit points for travelers in our city, creating a barrier to protect our population in the face of the serious situation recorded in a neighboring state – explains the Rio Municipal Health Secretary, Rodrigo Prado.

For children, the MMR vaccine – which protects against measles, mumps, and rubella – is given in two doses, at 12 and 15 months. It can also be taken by adolescents and adults up to 59 years of age who are not immunized, with two doses for those in the age group up to 29 years and one dose for people aged 30 to 59 years.

It is worth remembering that, last Monday (3), the SMS started the Multivaccination Campaign, a major mobilization to update the vaccination records of children and adolescents under 15 years of age. Vaccines, for both children and adults, are available at the 241 Primary Care units (family clinics and municipal health centers) in the municipality 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).

In 2026, Brazil had already confirmed 19 cases of measles, 16 of them in the state of São Paulo: 13 in the capital, two in the municipality of São Bernardo do Campo, and one in Guarulhos. Most of the confirmed cases in the state are babies under one year old. Aware of the national situation, since last week the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Health Department has sent a risk alert to the entire municipal network, providing guidance on the warning signs and symptoms of possible cases of the disease. For the population, the main recommendation is vaccination. And, in the face of symptoms that may lead to suspicion of measles – high fever and skin rashes, associated with cough and/or runny nose and/or conjunctivitis, especially if there is a history of travel – seek medical attention.

Category:

• City
• News
• Health Insurance

August 5th, 2026

Appointments: Santos Dumont Airport Tom Jobim Airport Measles vaccination