COVID-19: Over 82% of indigenous fully vaccinated

Brazil’s government has earmarked more than $17.0 million for efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic in indigenous villages. The value was disclosed by Robson Santos, special secretary for Indigenous Health of Brazil’s Health Ministry. He also said that more than 82 percent of the country’s indigenous population have been fully vaccinated.

The secretariat had the support of the Defense Ministry, Santos noted: “Over 20 inter-ministry missions have been launched for regions in the states of Rondônia, Amazonas, Acre, and Roraima.” The secretary went on to say that over 3 thousand vehicles—among then ferryboats, speedboats, airplanes, and helicopters—made it possible for approximately 6 thousand indigenous communities to be assisted during the pandemic.

As a result, the mortality of this public was less than half of the general population: The lethality rate among the indigenous was reported at 1.2 percent, compared to 2.5 percent in the general population.

The secretary talked about other action fronts pursued by the secretariat, among which the fight against malaria. The disease in endemic in 20 of the 34 indigenous districts, he affirmed. In the Yanomami district alone, one of the most severely hit, $38.8 million has been invested in 2020 and 2021, the highest-ever amount put towards fighting the disease. “Furthermore, we have also invested in the delivery of supplies, quick tests, and everything that’s necessary—mosquito nets, insecticides,” he said.