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News > Latin America

Brazil Cuts Back on Vaccines Amid Economic Strain

  • A nurse takes a blood sample to test for dengue fever, in a medical tent in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, May 7, 2015.

    A nurse takes a blood sample to test for dengue fever, in a medical tent in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, May 7, 2015. | Photo: Reuters

Published 7 January 2016
Opinion

Brazil has reduced number of vaccines distributed across its hospitals as part of the government’s latest cost-cutting strategy. 

Brazil has cut the number of doses for vaccinations given by its public health service to treat human papillomavirus and pneumonia as the country looks to reduce health costs amid a worsening economic downturn.

In a statement released this week, the Brazilian health ministry said the changes were "routine" and claimed the reductions would would not alter the efficacy of the vaccinations.

The statement said the cost of maintaining the country's vaccination program had risen by 140 percent over the past five years.

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In 2015 alone, the cost of distributing nearly 300 million immunobiologicals, such as vaccines, across the country reached US$720 million, the ministry said.

Local sources said the government has been reducing imports of vaccines over the past year to cut costs, resulting in diminishing stocks.

Brazil's health system has been one of the bodies hit hardest by falling government revenues. The health ministry did not say how much money would be saved by reducing the number of doses distributed.

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In December, the state of Rio de Janeiro declared a state of emergency after it ran out the funds to pay for health equipment, supplies and salaries.

Local reports said that during the state of emergency hospitals had to turn away patients due to a lack of supplies, while some displayed boards that warned that only people at risk of death would be helped.

Rio de Janeiro state has been hit hard by the slump in international oil prices, with petroleum its main source of revenue.

The health ministry also confirmed that doses for vaccination against HPV, a group of sexually transmitted viruses that can cause cancer, will be reduced to two from three.

The doses for vaccines given to babies to fend off pneumonia will also be cut slightly.

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