National Vaccination Day reinforces protection against more than 20 diseases

Ahead of National Vaccination Day, observed on October 17, the Brazilian Ministry of Health highlighted its support for states and municipalities to expand protection for the population.

Doses and available vaccines

In 2026, the Ministry of Health has already distributed more than 222 million doses to support routine vaccination in states and municipalities. SUS offers free vaccines against more than 20 diseases, including polio, measles, rubella, mumps, whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis A and B, yellow fever, meningitis, tuberculosis, HPV and dengue, according to each person's age, history and health conditions.

Pregnant women can also receive the vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the main cause of bronchiolitis in babies.

Coverage on the rise

Since 2023, coverage of the 16 vaccines in the childhood schedule has increased, and the number of unvaccinated children has fallen by 86%, according to WHO and UNICEF. In 2025, first-dose coverage of the MMR vaccine reached 93.10%.

Data released by WHO and UNICEF in July also show that the number of children without the first dose of the pentavalent vaccine fell from 360,000 to 50,000 between 2023 and 2025, a reduction of about 90%. As a result, Brazil joined the group of countries that most reduced the number of unvaccinated children.

Measles

In 2024, Brazil regained its certification as free of endemic measles transmission, which it had lost in 2019, a year with more than 20,000 cases. In 2026, 61 imported or import-related cases were confirmed.

The international situation calls for attention: according to the CDC, the United States is recording its highest annual number of cases in more than 35 years, with nearly 4,000 confirmed in 2026, mostly among unvaccinated people or those with unknown vaccination status.

Updates to the schedule

Between 2023 and 2026, the national schedule added the dengue vaccine, a single dose of the HPV vaccine for ages 9 to 14, the RSV vaccine for pregnant women, and a second booster dose of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) at age 4.

How to get vaccinated

Check your vaccination card and, if any doses are overdue, go to your local primary care unit (UBS), preferably with the card. Not having the card, however, does not prevent vaccination.

The digital vaccination card, with your dose history, is available free of charge in the Meu SUS Digital app or website, using a Gov.br account.

The MMR vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, is given at 12 months (first dose) and 15 months (second dose). Unvaccinated teenagers and adults should also go to a UBS.

Questions about your plan? Contact our customer service.

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