City of São Paulo has vaccinated 96.1% of adult population with first dose

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In the city of São Paulo, by Saturday, August 14, 96.1% of the adult population was vaccinated against Covid with the first dose (D1) and 40.5% with the second dose (D2). The rate was achieved in the wake of the “Virada da Vacina Sampa” (São Paulo Vaccine All-nighter), a City Hall initiative aimed at accelerating vaccination and immunizing residents of São Paulo’s capital as soon as possible.

On Saturday alone, 238,842 vaccine doses were administered during the all-nighter running from 7 PM to 5:30 AM, according to the official website of São Paulo City Hall. Of the total doses administered, 188,136 were first doses, 50,699 were second doses, and seven were single doses.

In the early evening, mayor Ricardo Nunes (MDB) accompanied the vaccination in the drive-thrus Anhembi and the Latin America Monument locations. According to him, the idea of Virada da Vacina Sampa was a success.

“Many cities in Brazil have copied the idea because we can communicate with the youth. They put it on social networks and encourage others to come,” the mayor said.

In total, more than 12 million doses have been administered in the city of São Paulo as of 5:30 PM Saturday since the vaccination campaign began. Already 8,554,898 (D1), 3,419,127 (D2) and 318,170 single doses have been distributed, for a total of 12,292,195.

Today, Sunday August 15, the City of São Paulo continues the uninterrupted vaccination campaign for 34 hours to vaccinate young people between 18 and 21 years.

The Municipal Health Secretariat (SMS) aims to encourage young people to vaccinate and end the calendar for the first dose for adults in the city of São Paulo.

According to the São Paulo City Hall website, taking the second dose during the Virada da Vacina Sampa is also possible. Those eligible should contact the Basic Health Services (UBS) and the Ambulatory Medical Assistance (AMA)/Integrated UBS by 5 PM. The first supply of doses will be available starting Monday, August 16.