measles vaccination coverage remains below the 95% target set by Brazil’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization in major cities across the Paraíba Valley and surrounding region. The shortfall is most pronounced for the second dose: none of the nine municipalities reviewed by g1 met the target for that dose.

The free triple viral vaccine, available through Brazil’s public health system, protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Children are scheduled to receive the first dose at 12 months and the second at 15 months.

In São José dos Campos, first-dose coverage rose from 82.81% in August to 93.81% in October, while second-dose coverage increased from 70.75% to 78.91%, according to the city government. Taubaté reported coverage of 94.46% for the first dose and 79.84% for the second.

Among the regional figures provided, first-dose coverage reached the 95% target in Caraguatatuba, at 99.91%, and Caçapava, at 96.01%. Atibaia also exceeded it, at 98.80%. Second-dose coverage remained below target in all listed municipalities, including 82.50% in Atibaia, 74.12% in Caçapava and 83.02% in Caraguatatuba.

Across São Paulo state, first-dose coverage rose from 86.56% in April to 93.24% in July. Second-dose coverage increased from 72.72% to 78.37% over the same period. Both rates remain short of the 95% goal. The state health department reported 41 confirmed measles cases in 2026: 37 in the city of São Paulo, two in São Bernardo do Campo, one in Guarulhos and one in Santo André. No confirmed cases had been reported in the Paraíba Valley in 2026 at the time of the report.

Infectious disease specialist Antonio Sérgio Mathias said a child who receives only the first dose has partial protection but does not reach the level of immunity needed to be protected against infection. He said families who miss the second-dose deadline do not need to wait for a new campaign and can visit a health clinic to have their records checked and complete the schedule. He attributed many delays to busy family routines or not knowing that a second dose is needed.

São José dos Campos deputy health secretary Joselma Alves said reports elsewhere in the state had prompted a vaccination effort at the city’s basic health units. She said clinics use appointments to encourage residents to get vaccinated and stressed that children need both doses.

Measles can initially resemble a severe cold or flu. Warning signs include high fever, persistent cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, followed by a rash that can begin on the face and behind the ears before spreading. Alves advised people with possible symptoms to seek care and avoid crowded places, as the virus spreads through respiratory transmission. Mathias said complications can include ear infections and severe pneumonia.

The routine schedule calls for two documented doses for people aged 15 months to 29 years, at least one for adults aged 30 to 59, and two for health workers regardless of age. An additional “zero dose” may be recommended for babies aged 6 to 11 months and 29 days who live in or travel through areas under an active health alert; it does not replace the routine doses at 12 and 15 months. People who have lost their childhood vaccination records or are unsure of their status are advised to contact a health clinic.

The triple viral vaccine is not recommended for pregnant people, babies under six months except where a zero dose is indicated, people with a history of severe allergic reaction to vaccine components, or immunosuppressed patients. People with chronic conditions or questions about eligibility should consult a health professional.

Sources: G1.