Vaccine passport suitable for the workplace

Published on 10/29/2021 5:22 PM

The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Vucruz) reiterated the importance of the permissibility of vaccination in the Covid-19 Observatory Bulletin issued today (29) and pointed out the need for immunization against Covid-19 in different work environments. The text highlights that the benefits of collective protection are not only for workers, but for their families, children, co-workers, and society.

“While many defend the right not to be vaccinated, we defend the right of the majority of the population, who, by incorporating recommended care, want to resume their routine lives as safely as possible at work, schools, universities, cinemas, theatres, football fields, gyms, restaurants and commercial stores. and many other places,” says the text, which considers it essential that employers and workers jointly come forward in campaigns, motivating and motivating the adoption of the vaccine passport in different work environments.

“We are still in an epidemic and, in the name of collective protection, we consider legitimate the restrictions that employers, schools, transport companies, cultural and commercial institutions place on the movement of unvaccinated people in their places.”

Vuecruz is of the view that, given international experience, universal vaccination should be linked to the implementation of the vaccination passport and measures such as the use of masks indoors and outdoors with crowding, physical distance and constant hand hygiene. In addition, the Foundation’s researchers reaffirmed the importance of maintaining air quality in the workplace.

“We can’t help but point out that it is up to employers, school administrators, transportation companies, cultural and commercial organizations to take care to ensure the best environmental conditions in these spaces, with modifications to install filters and improve air circulation.”

The bulletin also warns that the easing of physical distancing measures has increased the concentration of people in closed environments and expects this circulation to grow further in November and December, with the year-end celebrations.

stability

The analysis released today shows that the pandemic continues within a framework of stabilizing new cases and deaths. From October 10 to 23, the number of new diagnoses increased by 2.7% per day, while the number of deaths decreased by 0.1%.

“Looking at the recent historical series, the data show the preservation of the trend of reducing the effects of Covid-19 in the country, which has been maintained at a rate of decrease of between 1 and 2% per day over the past 18 weeks.”

In terms of hospitalization, the bulletin shows that 25 states are outside the alert zone, with less than 60% of intensive care beds occupied in the SUS. The only exceptions are the Federal District and Espirito Santo, both with 71%. With the number of hospitalizations declining, the number of beds to treat COVID-19 cases across the country has decreased.

vaccinated population

Fucruz draws attention to the fact that although Brazil already has 53% of the population with a full vaccination schedule, some states are far from the 50% mark of the population with two doses or a single dose. São Paulo is the leading country in vaccination, with about 80% of the population taking the first dose and 65% taking the second or single dose.

Mato Grosso do Sul (62.9%), Rio Grande do Sul (57.1%), Santa Catarina (54.5%), Paraná (53.9%), Espírito Santo (52.8%) and Minas Gerais (50.7%) also have more than half of the population with Complete vaccination schedule. Roraima (28%) and Amapá (27.4%) did not exceed 30%.

Older adults account for eight out of every ten deaths

The bulletin shows that the proportion of elderly people among the deaths of Covid-19 reached 81.9%, which is the highest percentage since the beginning of 2021. Vicruz recommends that age should be considered as a weakness, which requires differentiated clinical management and monitoring.

According to the bulletin, an elderly person in hospital is 2.5 times more likely to die of COVID-19 than an adult, which requires measures to avoid delays in diagnosis. “For those who have not yet taken a booster dose, the recommendation is to update their vaccination schedules promptly,” say the researchers, who recommend.