Brazil Launches National School Vaccination Week to Update Immunization Records for 27 Million Students

Brazil has launched a national school-based vaccination campaign targeting 27.8 million children and adolescents under 15 years old, mobilizing over 104,900 public schools across the country to update immunization records and prevent vaccine-preventable diseases.

The campaign, which began on April 14, 2025, aims to immunize 90% of nearly 28 million students by April 25, 2025, marking the largest school vaccination initiative since the Programa Saúde na Escola was launched in 2007. We see being coordinated by the Brazilian Ministry of Health and implemented in 5,544 municipalities nationwide.

Health officials emphasize that the effort focuses on verifying and completing vaccination records for children and adolescents, ensuring they are up to date with the National Immunization Program (PNI) schedule. Vaccines being administered include those for measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, yellow fever, and human papillomavirus (HPV), among others, depending on age and regional risk factors.

The initiative comes amid ongoing concerns about declining vaccination coverage in Brazil since 2016, which has raised alarms about the resurgence of preventable diseases. Officials note that school-based delivery allows for efficient reach and helps close immunization gaps exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to bring their children’s vaccination cards to school on designated campaign days so health teams can review records and administer any missing doses. The campaign also includes outreach efforts to address vaccine hesitancy through communication with families and training for education and health professionals involved in implementation.

By leveraging the school system as a central platform for public health intervention, Brazil seeks to strengthen herd immunity and protect vulnerable populations from outbreaks. The campaign underscores the government’s commitment to restoring and maintaining high vaccination coverage as a cornerstone of child and adolescent health.