Rio de Janeiro considers bringing forward 3rd dose for seniors, shortening Pfizer interval

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The use of the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in the elderly, officially scheduled for October, may be brought forward. This is at least the wish of the mayor, Eduardo Paes.

In the publication of the 31st epidemiological bulletin of the city this Friday (6), he said that the current vaccination schedule of the city might change from the 18th of this month when immunization ends with the first dose for the entire adult population.

Another reason for possible schedule changes is the possibility that city officials will give priority to teens with comorbidities or disabilities when vaccinating minors, whose official start date is announced for Aug. 23.

City Hall has also been working with the city’s health secretariat to study shortening the period between the two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. The change, if it occurs, will come after the vaccination program for the entire adult population has been completed.

He also discussed the proposal to push for exclusive vaccination of adolescents with comorbidities or disabilities; as studies show they are at higher risk of hospitalization and death from Covid-19 than other adolescents.

Another issue Paes raised is the possible shortening of the time between Pfizer’s first and second doses. International research shows that the measure increases the effectiveness of vaccination.

The importance of the change has even been recognized by the Department of Health and Human Services, which has endorsed the need to shorten the period between the two injections but has not yet set a deadline for federal implementation.