COVID-19: Infections will continue and we must remain vigilant, says minister.

Secom - This Sunday, May 7th, the Minister of Health, Nísia Trindade, made a statement on National Radio and Television. In her message, she addressed the recent declaration by the World Health Organization (WHO) that it no longer considers Covid-19 a global public health emergency. “After having gone through such a painful period, our country receives this news with hope. We will still live with Covid-19, which continues to evolve and mutate,” she declared.

A warning: It's time to intensify vaccination efforts. Hospitalizations and deaths from Covid-19 occur primarily in individuals who have not received the recommended vaccine doses.

Nísia Trindade, Minister of Health

In her address to the nation, the minister celebrated the progressive reduction in the number of hospitalizations and deaths in Brazil as a result of the population's protection through vaccines. According to her, there is a shift in the scenario from emergency mode to continuous response, as part of the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

“Infections by the SARS-CoV-2 virus will continue, and we must remain vigilant. Therefore, surveillance systems, diagnosis, healthcare networks, and vaccination need to be strengthened,” explained Nísia Trindade.

Regarding the need for the population to get vaccinated against Covid-19, the minister was categorical. “A warning: It’s time to intensify vaccination. Hospitalizations and deaths from Covid-19 occur mainly in individuals who have not received the recommended vaccine doses.”

Since February, the Ministry of Health has been working alongside states and municipalities in a national campaign for booster vaccination against Covid-19. During this period, more than 13 million doses of bivalent vaccines have been administered in Brazil. The vaccine is intended for all people over 18 years of age who have completed the primary vaccination schedule.

The minister also recalled the widespread grief that shook the country during the pandemic: “Unfortunately, in Brazil, we lost more than 700 people. About 2,7% of the world's population lives in our country, but we had 11% of the total deaths.” Nísia Trindade pointed to the influence of the misguided position adopted by the previous administration in worsening the pandemic situation in the country. “We cannot forget! We need to preserve this memory of what happened in order to build a dignified future,” the minister affirmed.

SUS: ESSENTIAL - In her statement, the minister paid tribute to the healthcare professionals who faced the pandemic on the front lines. "I want to thank everyone who fought in defense of our society, risking their own lives, especially before the development of vaccines."

Nísia Trindade also mentioned the efforts of the Butantan Institute and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in developing and producing the vaccines that protected people from the virus. She also praised governors, mayors, and civil society, who did not follow the logic of denialism and engaged in prevention.

According to the minister, the Unified Health System (SUS) played a fundamental role in protecting the population. She calls on Brazilian society to reflect on the importance of the SUS and to defend health as a universal right.

"It is also time for us to learn the lessons of this pandemic. To strengthen the Unified Health System, the largest universal health system in the world. To prepare ourselves with consistent programs for future epidemics and health emergencies."

FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH, NÍSIA TRINDADE:

My friends,

Good night

The World Health Organization declared on May 5th that the Covid-19 pandemic is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. After having gone through such a painful period, our country receives this news with hope. 

We will still be living with Covid-19, which continues to evolve and mutate, but for more than a year we have had a predominance worldwide of the omicron variant and its sub-strains, without a worsening of the health situation.

We are seeing a progressive reduction in the number of hospitalizations and deaths, a result of the population being protected by vaccines.

In this scenario, it is understood that the current moment indicates a transition from emergency mode to a continuous response, as part of the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Infections with the SARS-CoV-2 virus will continue, and we must remain vigilant.

Therefore, surveillance systems, diagnostics, healthcare networks, and vaccination programs need to be strengthened.

A warning: It's time to step up vaccination efforts. Hospitalizations and deaths from Covid-19 are occurring primarily in individuals who have not received the recommended vaccine doses.

For this reason, the Ministry of Health, along with states and municipalities, has been carrying out a national campaign for booster vaccination against Covid-19 since February.

This is the most effective and safe way to protect our population. We need to be united for health, in defense of life.

There were many obstacles throughout this pandemic.

The worst impact was the loss of so many lives and knowing that many more could have been saved.

Unfortunately, in Brazil, we lost more than 700 people: 2,7% of the world's population lives in our country, but we accounted for 11% of the total deaths!

The outcome would have been different if the previous government had respected scientific recommendations throughout the pandemic. If the government had followed and fulfilled its obligations to protect the country's population.

We cannot forget! We need to preserve this memory so that we can build a worthy future.

At this moment I want to thank everyone who fought in defense of our society, risking their own lives, especially before the development of vaccines.

And if vaccines were responsible for saving lives, we must thank the scientists and laboratories that developed and produced them. Special thanks to the role played in Brazil by the Butantan Institute, Fiocruz, and Anvisa. Even with all the dismantling of science and technology, our universities and research institutes spared no effort in the search for solutions. We must also thank the governors and mayors who did not succumb to denialism and contributed decisively to confronting the pandemic. And also to civil society, which engaged in this process.

Despite the denialism, the attacks on science, and the policy of neglect, many lives have been saved thanks to the SUS (Brazilian Public Health System) and the boundless efforts of healthcare workers. I thank them all, on my behalf and on behalf of President Lula, who has dedicated himself since the first day of our government to the policy of care and the strengthening of the SUS.

It is also time for us to learn the lessons of this pandemic. To strengthen the Unified Health System, the largest universal health system in the world. To prepare ourselves with consistent programs for future epidemics and health emergencies. To strengthen our scientific and technological capacity and to overcome social inequalities, which cause the pandemic to disproportionately affect those in situations of greater social vulnerability.

It is time, above all, to value life, health, and democratic culture. 

Let's work together – government, healthcare workers, the scientific community, and all of society – to preserve life and improve conditions for disease prevention and health promotion. So that we never again relive the terrible days of the recent past and build a better future.

Good evening and have a good week.