Can Older People be Vaccinated Against Measles? Who has already taken the vaccine? Experts answer questions | Welfare

Worldwide, the number of registered cases has increased by 30% last year. There were 173,330, 41,000 more than in 2016. Of these, 775 cases were in the Americas.

According to the report of the Ministry of Health, it is necessary to be attentive to the symptoms for people 'who have traveled abroad in the last 30 days or who have had contacts during the same period with a person traveling abroad ".

This orientation, in fact, predates the World Cup and concerns imported cases of measles, since the indigenous cases in which the disease is contracted with the circulation of the virus in the country did not occur. since 2000.

All persons with the exception of pregnant women and immunized persons should be vaccinated between the ages of six months and 49 years who have never been vaccinated against measles or measles. who do not know if they have been vaccinated.

Regarding suspected cases, the Ministry draws attention to the following symptoms: fever, conjunctivitis, red patches on the skin, cough and coryza. Within four days of the onset of symptoms, these people must be isolated to avoid contaminating the people around them.

"Suspected cases should be reported immediately to the health authorities, because it is possible to take measures to prevent the spread of the disease to those who live with the patient," says infectiologist Bruno Oliveira, a doctor at Maternal Hospital Infantil de Brasília.

BBC News Brazil heard from officials on measles virus transmission and vaccination, and answers key questions on the subject.

Brazil has a measles epidemic

Yes, according to a document published in March by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The epidemic in Brazil is currently concentrated in the states of Amazonas and Roraima, but the virus has begun to spread in other regions: in Rio de Janeiro 2 cases have been confirmed and 14 are studied. Seven cases have already been confirmed in Rio Grande do Sul, in addition to two cases in Mato Grosso and one in São Paulo. A total of 995 measles cases were recorded in Brazil between 1 January and 23 May, of which 475 were confirmed, with 3 deaths.

Measles has been considered eradicated in the Americas since 2016, according to a certificate issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).

There are measures to prevent measles, but vaccination with vaccines is the only effective measure against measles. Therefore, the Ministry of Health seeks to vaccinate 95% of the population from 6 months to 49 years.

In addition to vaccinations, people can take other measures, such as washing their hands with soap and water before meals, before touching their eyes, mouth and nose. after coughing, sneezing, greeting people. When you cough and sneeze, protect your mouth and nose with disposable tissues and never sneeze into your hands; If you do not have a disposable tissue, it is recommended to sneeze on the forearm near the elbow. Avoiding agglomerations and maintaining ventilated environments are other measures to prevent the transmission of measles.

After Oliveira, yes. "Measles can be extremely serious, especially in the respiratory and central nervous systems, which can lead to death."

Measles is a serious infectious disease, extremely contagious, which can affect anyone, of any age, who has no antibodies against the disease.

Among the various complications that the virus can cause are pneumonia and neurological disorders such as seizures, mental confusion, hallucinations, weakness and loss of sensation. These complications are usually more severe in malnourished children and less than a year old.

The disease can also leave severe consequences for the rest of life. "The most common are neurological and can occur during illness or up to several years after the infection," reports the infectious doctor.

What is the name of the vaccine against measles?

There are two measles vaccines: the triple virus, which also protects against rubella and mumps, and the tetravalent virus, which includes immunization against a fourth virus, chickenpox, known as chickenpox.

Where can I find the vaccine?

The triple antiviral vaccine and the tetravalent viral vaccine are available free of charge throughout the year in basic health services for the entire population. There is also the possibility of taking these vaccines in private clinics, but not for free. Both in the private network and in SUS, the components of measles vaccines are the same.

Can I take measles by vaccination?

The FioCruz researcher explains that measles vaccines are made from the weakened virus and that, therefore, the risk of vaccine infection does not exceed 2%.

"This hypothesis of contracting measles in vaccination is unlikely, since studies with the vaccine have shown seroconversion (antibody production) of 98% to 100% of vaccinated," explains Noronha

. measles?

"Pregnant women should not receive the vaccine and there is an indication to avoid pregnancy for at least 28 days after vaccination because of the theoretical risk of harmful effects on the fetus, although this risk has never been proven. . The advice for pregnant women who have never taken measles vaccine is to vaccinate them during the postpartum period to indirectly protect the newborn by badfeeding and to avoid contracting the virus.

Yes, but only six-month-olds can be vaccinated against measles.

I took a dose in childhood. Am I protected?

"Those who have not taken two doses from the age of 12 months are not sufficiently protected, they are still at a certain level of susceptibility. If you doubt whether you are totally protected or not it's better to dismiss, "says the president of the Society. Brazilian Immunization Program (SBIm), Isabella Ballalai.

No. Two groups should not take the triple nonprescription viral vaccine: pregnant as explained above, and people with low immunity.

"The measles vaccine is not recommended for people whose immune system is compromised by a disease or drug that can develop measles from the vaccine virus, since the vaccine is made from weakened viruses." complete Ballalai.

What is the correct age to take a vaccine?

A triple viral must be taken at the age of 12 months. The tetravalent virus should be taken at 15 months.

"Under the National Immunization Program, adults under the age of 29 should receive two doses with MMR vaccine: people aged 30 to 49 years should receive one dose," says epidemiologist Tatiana Noronha. Bio-Manguinhos unit, from FioCruz, one of the producers of the triple viral vaccine.

Is it forbidden at any age to take measles vaccine?

Yes, newborns and infants under six months of age should not take any vaccine against the virus.

With the exception above, if you have not been vaccinated at the correct age, no matter who can take the RMM, there is no of age limit, although the alert from the Ministry of Health is up to 49 years old. The explanation of the limit announced by the ministry is that people 50 years or older may have already been in contact with the virus and thus be immunized against measles.

"A dose may be recommended for the elderly, but it is at the discretion of the physician, taking into account the patient's history," explains Noronha.

I had measles. I have to get vaccinated?

Measles is taken only once in his life: anyone who has ever been infected with the virus will never have the disease again.

"Measles infection generates lifelong protection," says Ballalai. "But before deciding not to get vaccinated, you have to be absolutely certain that you have had measles, because other diseases have very similar symptoms. Still: if in doubt, it is better to vaccinate, because you do not do it there is a risk of overload in the body ", warns the specialist.

The vaccine has side effects

According to Ballalai, side effects are rare, but can occur between five and 21 days after vaccination, especially at the triple dose of the vaccine.

Vaccination may cause mild symptoms similar to those of the disease: 5 days of high fever in 5% to 15% of red areas vaccinated on the body about 2 days in 5% of the swollen and vaccinated glands have already been observed in less than 1% of vaccinated, "says the president of the Brazilian Society of Vaccination, noting that local reactions such as burns, redness, pain and nodules can also occur, as it s is an injectable vaccine.

How is measles transmitted?

Transmission of the measles virus can occur in two ways: direct, from person to person, coming into contact with secretions expelled by coughing, sneezing, speech; and indirect, by air: as the virus can be suspended for a long time in the air, it is not necessary to come into direct contact with the patient, it is sufficient to to be in the same environment as him to be infected.

Is there treatment for measles?

According to Oliveira, there is no specific treatment against the measles virus. "There is only one supportive treatment for the sequelae that the disease can leave," he says.

The doctor explains that patients must remain at rest, have a balanced diet, ingest a lot of fluids and avoid congested and closed environments to avoid infecting others.

Because the virus still circulates in large numbers in many parts of Europe and America, and returns to circulate in Brazil with migrations and international travels. In other words, we re-import the virus.

In addition to returning to Brazil, the virus has benefited from the low immunization of Brazilians, who have stopped vaccinating and vaccinating their children in recent years.

According to Ministry of Health data, Brazil's triple viral immunization coverage reached 100% from 2004 to 2011, but has started to decline since then.

According to data from Datasus badyzed by BBC News Brazil, the second dose of measles vaccine has not reached the goal of vaccination, 95%, since 2012. In 2016, only 76.74% 15 months old children have been immunized.

In an interview with BBC News Brasil, the National Immunization Program Coordinator of the Ministry of Health, Carla Domingues, badured that there was no clear explanation to the Decrease in triple viral immunization coverage In recent years, there has been no reduction in the supply or shortage of vaccine in Brazil.

For the coordinator, the explanation could be in a possible forgetfulness of the populations on certain diseases, previously frequent in the country, but now controlled and less visible.