This study analyzed the coverage by the public health service of expenses with medication and vaccines for the adult population of Sao Paulo with self-reported diabetes mellitus in 2003 and the implications for access to medicines and vaccination campaigns programs. Data were collected by the Multicenter Health Survey of Sao Paulo. The Unified Health System (SUS) was widely used by the population for vaccination against influenza and pneumonia and there was significant private sector participation for coverage of expenses with medication, with an estimated coverage of 38% by SUS. There were no significant differences in the prevalence of use of public services for vaccination among the categories of variables studied, suggesting a universal distribution of vaccination by the public health service. Unlike vaccinations, in 2003 the coverage of medication expenses by the public health service was recent in Brazil, which may explain the low level of coverage. An analysis of coverage of vaccination and medication expenses in diabetes mellitus population since 2003 may contribute to be the basis for policies to broaden access of the population to health services.202 557564