By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Brazil’s health ministry announced (computer translated) the purchase of large supplies of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) in the wake of a surge in measles cases.

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They purchased 114% more of the number of MMR vaccine doses for 2019 and 2020 compared to 2018, from 30.6 million to 60.2 million and 65. 4 million doses.

The measure aims to ensure the vaccination of 39 million Brazilians, 20% of the population, aged 1 to 49 years, who today are susceptible to the disease because they have received the vaccine or the amount of doses required. The Ministry also works to control the outbreak in the country.

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“There will be no reduction in the quantity of vaccines or money to buy vaccines. This is a priority of the Ministry of Health and the Federal Government. We are buying in 2019 a quantity for more than 12 months to create a strategic stock. So, this year, we are buying more doses than we had in previous years and, besides, we are buying cheaper ”, explained the Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Health, João Gabbardo. “If necessary, we will reallocate resources for vaccination. Immunization is a priority and will have vaccine for everyone, ”added Gabbardo.

Year to date, Brazil has reported 4,476 measles cases, with the bulk of them (3906) reported in the past 90 days.