Peru, currently facing an increase in chickenpox cases, will receive Brazilian assistance to contain the disease: the country will donate 100,000 doses of chickenpox vaccine to the Peruvian government as humanitarian aid. The contribution was crucial to enable the start of the chickenpox vaccination campaign in the country, launched on February 23 at the “Hospital Niño de Breña,” a national reference in pediatrics.
The Brazil is a global reference in vaccination, with most of the main vaccines – including the chickenpox vaccine – offered free of charge to the population as part of the national vaccination calendar of the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS, Brazil’s universal health system). The Ministry of Health worked to ensure that the donation does not compromise the supply of the vaccine in the country. In 2017, Brazil sent 26 and received 29 batches of medical supplies and medications as part of international humanitarian cooperation efforts.Disease
Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious infection that causes irritation and skin rashes. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and transmitted from person to person through direct physical contact or respiratory secretions.