The state of Paraíba in Brazil has officially expanded its target audience for dengue vaccination, now including primary health care professionals aged up to 59. The announcement was made by the State Health Secretariat, which has distributed 13,900 doses of the vaccine produced by the Butantan Institute to all 223 municipalities within the state. This marks a significant step in the fight against dengue, which has been a growing concern in the region.

Previously, the vaccination strategy was limited to specific populations and select municipalities based on epidemiological criteria. With this new decision, not only the 24 municipalities that had already offered the vaccine can continue doing so, but the other 199 municipalities now also have access to the immunization, effectively increasing vaccination coverage throughout Paraíba. This expansion is crucial as the state continues to deal with rising dengue cases and aims to protect more individuals from the disease.

The inclusion of primary health care workers comes as Paraíba engages in a state mobilization campaign against dengue that is set to run until February 27. Following this initiative, a statewide vaccination event is scheduled for February 28, where additional vaccines will be provided to the population, thereby reinforcing the importance of immunization in controlling the dengue outbreak and ensuring public health safety in the region.