Brazilian Government starts vaccination against Covid- 19 in port and airport workers

In view of the recent incident with the M/V Shandong da Zhi at the Port of Itaqui, the Federal Government hastened the decision regarding the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines to port workers.

A crew member has been admitted to a private hospital since May 14th and the confirmation of the Indian variant (whose technical name is B.1.671.2.) was released last Thursday (May 20th). Three other crew members of the Vessel were admitted with symptoms of Covid-19, but two were discharged on the 18th and returned to the Vessel.

According to the secretariat, the Central Laboratory of Public Health of the State of Maranhão received 102 samples from professionals in direct and indirect contact with the Vessel’s crew.

Of the 23 crew members aboard M/V Shandong da Zhi, 15 tested positive for Covid-19, but are asymptomatic and quarantined on the Vessel itself, isolated in individual cabins. The secretariat continues to monitor all contacts, through the Health Surveillance Strategic Information Center.

Last Sunday (May 23rd), in a joint decision with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Infrastructure ensured the inclusion of the category of port and airport workers in the priority group of the National Immunization Plan (PNI) of the Federal Government. As of Tuesday night (May 25th), the Ministry started to send vaccine doses to more than 202 thousand people from these priority group. Lots will be distributed for the first dose of 100% of the port workers and 78% of the airport workers.

It should be noted that it is estimated that the group is slightly larger (around 227 thousand people), which indicates that the doses will be sent in more than one stage.

At the ports, employees of port authorities and operators (lessees or permit holders) and independent workers will be vaccinated. At the airports, terminal workers, airlines and service providers will receive the vaccine.

At the Port of Santos, the vaccination of port workers started today (May 27th), meanwhile, many other Port Administrations are preparing their vaccination strategies and awaiting the arrival of vaccines in the coming days, which is the case of the Port of Paranaguá, for example.

João Eduardo Kuhlmann

Kuhlmann Surveyors & Consultants

27th May, 2021.

Sources:

1. Paraná will receive over 390,190 vaccines and immunize port and air transport workers: http://www.aen.pr.gov.br/modules/noticias/article.php?storyid=112663&tit=P arana-recebera-mais-390.190-vacinas-e-imunizara-trabalhadores-portuarios-e- do-transporte-aereo

2. Ports of Paraná is preparing for vaccination against Covid-19 in port workers: http://www.aen.pr.gov.br/modules/noticias/article.php?storyid=112683

3. Covid-19: port workers are vaccinated in São Paulo: https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/saude/noticia/2021-05/covid-19- trabalhadores-portuarios-sao-vacinados-em-sao-paulo

4. Ministry of Health announces vaccination of port workers and air passengers: https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/saude/noticia/2021-05/ministerio-da-saude- anuncia-vacinacao-de-portuarios-e-aeroviarios

5. Patient hospitalized in MA with Indian variant is in serious condition: https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/saude/noticia/2021-05/paciente-internado- no-ma-com-variante-indiana-esta-em-estado-grave