1. Low vaccine coverage and varicella outbreaks in Brazil - 2019-2022.
- Author
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Fujita DM, da Silva Nali LH, da Costa RR, de Andrade Júnior HF, and de Albuquerque Luna EJ
- Subjects
- Humans, Brazil epidemiology, Child, Preschool, Child, Infant, Incidence, Adolescent, Female, Male, COVID-19 prevention & control, COVID-19 epidemiology, Adult, Vaccination statistics & numerical data, Young Adult, Chickenpox prevention & control, Chickenpox epidemiology, Chickenpox Vaccine administration & dosage, Chickenpox Vaccine immunology, Vaccination Coverage statistics & numerical data, Disease Outbreaks prevention & control, Immunization Programs
- Abstract
The persistence of varicella outbreaks in Brazil has underscored the high concern with the low vaccine coverage in the last 4 years. Using publicly available data from the Brazilian Health System (SUS), this study analyzed varicella vaccine coverage and incidence trends from 2019 to 2022 in Brazilian States. Vaccine coverage decreased nationally in 2020, possibly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic's initial phase. In Bahia State, we have the persistence of varicella with an incidence rate of 3.0 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (higher incidence compared to other States) in 2023. Under 15 months children and young children (4-6 Years old) faced the highest risk, urging the importance of vaccination. Despite a monovalent varicella vaccine being available through Brazil's National Immunization Program (NIP), Bahia fell short of achieving the ≥95 % disease control target for coverage. The study highlight the importance of vaccines to prevent some infectious diseases, as varicella, in poor tropical regions. Addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, and augmenting awareness campaigns, are important to achieve and sustain high vaccine coverage over 80% as WHO guidelines to obtain a safe rate of protection for Brazilian population (Brazil's national immunization program has a target of 95% coverage)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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