INCIDÊNCIA DE DOENÇAS IMUNOPREVENÍVEIS EM MENORES DE CINCO ANOS: ANÁLISE DA COBERTURA VACINAL E HOMOGENEIDADE NO CENTRO-OESTE DO BRASIL

Abstract

Vaccination is one of the most effective interventions for controlling the occurrence of infectious diseases, and it is essential to analyze vaccination coverage and homogeneity between municipalities. The National Immunization Program (PNI) and the Epidemiological Surveillance System in Brazil aim to have an impact on the control, elimination and even eradication of preventable diseases by immunizing the general population, especially children. The aim of this study is to analyze vaccination coverage and homogeneity in Brazilian regions and relate it to the increase in the number of cases of vaccine-preventable diseases in children under five. This is an ecological study using data from the National Immunization Program Information System (SI-PNI) for the period 2003-2022. Indicators of vaccination coverage, homogeneity and the number of cases of vaccine-preventable diseases in children under five were analyzed. There was a significant decline in vaccination coverage among children under 5, as well as homogeneity across regions in Brazil even before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, during the pandemic, in which the focus was on intensive care, there was a sharper decline in coverage, which had a negative impact on immunization. Most regions have a high risk of vaccine-preventable diseases; divergent vaccination coverage (low or high) in some regions, probably due to errors in data recording, vaccinated by place of residence, underestimated population; homogeneity of municipalities with very low values; few vaccinated children in municipalities with acceptable coverage homogeneity; and some municipalities with no information on doses. Interventions are therefore essential to raise the country's acceptable vaccination coverage and homogeneity targets. Health education is essential to transform behavior towards vaccines and health professionals need to be involved in broad policies and social debates on vaccination. Furthermore, tackling vaccine hesitancy in the face of misinformation is decisive in preventing it from becoming a public health risk. Descriptors: Vaccines; Vaccination coverage; Vaccine-preventable diseases; Immunization programs.