Por Kleber Karpov
The Health Department of the Federal District (SES-DF) administered, throughout 2025, almost 155 thousand doses of vaccines through 1.1 thousand itinerant actions throughout the territory. The initiative, which aims to facilitate the population’s access to immunizations against diseases such as yellow fever, measles, covid-19 and flu, included active search strategies in high-traffic locations, such as squares, schools, fairs and shopping malls, in addition to the use of the Vaccine Car.
The so-called extramural actions are essential to reach audiences who, for different reasons, do not seek out fixed vaccination rooms. The strategy seeks to raise awareness among the population about the importance of immunization and remove barriers such as time and travel.
“By expanding points, times and service formats, SES-DF seeks to raise awareness among the population about the importance of getting vaccinated and facilitating access to immunization agents, protecting not only the individual, but the entire community. It is a commitment we have to the prevention of preventable diseases and the promotion of everyone’s health”, explains the manager of the SES-DF Central Cold Chain, Tereza Luiza Pereira.
Of the total of 1,100 activities carried out, 365 took place in schools, 550 in other high-traffic locations and 170 were carried out by the Vaccine Car. In parallel, the more than one hundred fixed vaccination rooms, with around 50 units also operating on Saturdays, administered 1.6 million doses in the first six months of 2025 alone.
“Initiatives carried out in high-traffic locations, such as supermarkets, parks and the zoo, have shown positive results in terms of adherence. These spaces facilitate people’s access to vaccination during day-to-day activities, reducing barriers such as time and travel”, says Pereira.
Planning and logistics
Each itinerant action is planned based on mapping the most vulnerable territories and those distant from Basic Health Units (UBSs). The focus is on regions where the population faces mobility difficulties to keep the vaccination schedule up to date.
“We mapped the most vulnerable territories and the most distant locations from UBSs [unidades básicas de saúde]. We also consider cities in which the population has difficulty getting around to follow the basic vaccination schedule”, highlights Zildene Bitencourt, head of the Epidemiological Surveillance and Immunization Center in Sol Nascente/Pôr do Sol, Ceilândia and Brazlândia.
The Vaccine Car, created in 2022, has already administered more than 89 thousand doses since its inception. The vehicle provides all vaccines on the routine schedule, with the exception of the dengue vaccine, which requires an observation period, and BCG, administered to newborns in maternity wards. Logistics involves a team of at least six servers and strict temperature control.
“All vaccine boxes have a temperature control map that is checked and noted every hour, in accordance with technical recommendations. The number of syringes is calculated in proportion to the number of doses that will be taken for action and the route of administration of each one”, adds Zildene Bitencourt.
Registration and citizen guidance
SES-DF advises the population to bring an identification document with a photo and an immunization booklet. However, the absence of a vaccination card does not prevent care, as healthcare teams are instructed to search for the patient’s history in the available information systems.
“In case of absence of the card or booklet, the health team searches the records in the available information systems. When it is not possible to locate the history, the professional talks to the user and assesses whether the vaccination can be carried out at the moment”, states the SES-DF doctor, Gabriela Villar.
Kleber Karpov, Fenaj: 10379-DF – IFJ: BR17894 Master’s student in Political Communication (Universidade Católica Portuguesa/Lisbon, Portugal); Postgraduate in Executive MBA in Neuromarketing (Unyleya); Postgraduate in Auditing and Management of Health Services (Unicesp); Extension in Political Sciences by Veduca/University of São Paulo (USP); Former Municipal Secretary of Communication of Santo Antônio do Descoberto (GO); He was a press advisor at the Federal Senate, Federal Chamber and the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District.
