Covid-19 and its impact on immunization programs: reflections from Brazil

Abstract

Due to social distancing guidelines and the displacement of both human and material resources to fight the covid-19 pandemic, individuals seeking healthcare services face certain challenges. Immunization programs have already been a worrisome topic for health authorities due to declines in vaccine uptake rates and are now especially affected by the covid-19 pandemic. Disbelief in science, dissemination of fake news about vaccines, socioeconomic vulnerability and social inequality are some of the challenges faced. This commentary article discusses the impacts of the covid-19 pandemic on immunization programs in Brazil. In light of advances (and notability) of Brazil’s national immunization program, established in the 1970s, the programs face challenges, such as the recent drop in vaccine uptake rates. In addition to this health crisis, there is also Brazil’s current political crisis, which will undoubtedly require assistance from researchers, policymakers and society to be fixed.

Impact of COVID-19 on immunization of Brazilian infants

“…The fact that Brazil is the second most affected country by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a pre-existing economic and political crisis, exacerbated by measures of social restriction to control the pandemic, may be contributing to a dangerous decrease in children’s vaccination coverage. However, the impact of the pandemic on immunization programmes and vaccine uptake among infants in Brazil is not known ( Matos et al, 2020 ). A recent systematic review suggested that this subject has not been studied in Latin America ( Lassi et al, 2021 ).…”

Number of Doses of Measles-Mumps-Rubeola Vaccine Applied in Brazil Before and During The COVID-19 Pandemic

“…National and international studies attributed a reduction of the population's demand for health services, with a consequent drop in vaccination coverage, to the restrictive mitigation measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic [1,5,21,22]. However, there has been an observed trend in a decline in vaccine doses applied in Brazil over the last two decades [22], especially those immunobiologicals recommended in early childhood [13,23].…”

“…National and international studies attributed a reduction of the population's demand for health services, with a consequent drop in vaccination coverage, to the restrictive mitigation measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic [1,5,21,22]. However, there has been an observed trend in a decline in vaccine doses applied in Brazil over the last two decades [22], especially those immunobiologicals recommended in early childhood [13,23]. Contextual and individual factors that have been cited in recent studies [15,22] have attributed the decline based on vaccination coverage including the lack of planning by the Brazilian National Universal Healthcare System (SUS), social and cultural aspects effecting vaccination acceptance, logistical di culties cited by the PNI in offering several routine vaccines as part of the national vaccine schedule, anti-vaccination movements, and inconsistencies in the availability of immunobiologicals offered by Primary Healthcare services.…”

Simulating Immunization Campaigns and Vaccine Protection Against COVID-19 Pandemic in Brazil

“…However, due to limitations on the capacity of vaccine production and the global fluctuation in its distribution, it is well-known that several countries around the world have faced enormous challenges in trying to cope with new waves of COVID-19. This is the case experienced by Brazil, a developing country that has suffered from delays in negotiating early deals with pharmaceutical companies [4] and from the high social inequality present in the country [5]. As a consequence, the total number of new cases and deaths significantly increased in 2021, surpassing the worst scenario seen in the previous year [1].…”