Coronavirus

Covid-19 is biggest cause of natural death among young people in Brazil

Vaccination of under 18s already underway in northeastern city São Luis
Vaccination of under 18s already underway in northeastern city São Luis. Photo: Prefeitura de São Luis.

In 2021 alone, the coronavirus was the cause of natural death of 1,581 Brazilians aged between 10 and 19, making it the leading cause within the age group, superseding cancer. 

According to official data, 10-19-year-olds make up 0.5 percent of all Covid-19 victims since March 2020. Experts warn that the increase in the number of hospitalizations and natural death due to Covid-19 among the young population relates to “a high community transmission rate” and to the “circulation of new coronavirus variants.”

Furthermore, vaccination of under 18s is almost non-existent in Brazil, with several state capitals still administering jabs to people aged between 30 and 40 years old.