Rio de Janeiro begins to administer Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Today, May 4th, the city of Rio de Janeiro starts vaccination against Covid-19 with doses from U.S. drugmaker Pfizer. The State Health Secretariat (SES) received 46,800 doses on Monday night and, following the Ministry of Health’s guidance, directed the entire batch to the state capital, the only location with deep cold storage facilities.

As a result, the Municipal Health Secretariat (SMS) begins the administration of the first dose at the Estácio de Sá Family Clinic, in Rio Comprido, in the city’s northern zone, following the priority group schedule.

According to the National Immunization Program (PNI), the vaccine against Covid-19 will be administered to people with comorbidities, pregnant and postpartum women, and people with permanent disabilities.

The interval between the first and second doses of Pfizer’s vaccine is 12 weeks. The vaccine needs to be stored between -25ºC and -15ºC, but after removal from storage can remain up to 5 days at a temperature between 2ºC and 8ºC. Most cities in the state do not have adequate storage facilities.