Cobertura vacinal infantil entre 2019 a 2022 em um município no Maranhão

Abstract

Immunization is essential to contain infectious diseases that pose a risk to lives. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is one of the most efficient health investments for countries, preventing two to three million deaths annually worldwide. The new coronavirus pandemic, notably, has tested global healthcare systems, impacting the delivery of essential services, including immunization programs, due to concerns that the continuation of routine vaccination and largescale campaigns could contribute to the spread of COVID-19. The present study aimed to analyze the prevalence of childhood vaccination coverage from 0 to 6 years old between 2019 and 2022 in a municipality in Maranhão, encompassing both a non-pandemic and pandemic period for future comparisons. This is a descriptive, quantitative, and retrospective study based on the collection of secondary data available in DATASUS. The adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have unfavorably reflected on the childhood immunization program, resulting in a notable decrease in vaccine coverage. When analyzing the vaccines, it stands out that the BCG vaccine was the only one among the immunizations that consistently met the target set by the Ministry of Health in all the years considered, while the Tetra viral vaccine had the lowest coverage, recording only 0.50% in 2020. Despite an existing trend of declining vaccination coverage, motivated by various factors, this study reveals a significant reduction in the rates recorded in 2020 and 2021. Thus, while it is not possible to assert categorically that the COVID-19 pandemic and distancing measures are direct causes of the decrease in immunization, we can infer an association. This underscores the need to implement additional strategies in emergency situations, such as intensifying public awareness and promoting enhanced vaccination campaigns