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IntroductionThere is widespread concern that disruption to health services during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to declines in immunization coverage among young children, but there is limited information on the magnitude of such impact.MethodsWe used data from two nationwide sources covering the whole of Brazil. Data from the Information System of the National Immunization Program (SIPNI) on the monthly number of vaccine doses administered to young children were analyzed. The second source was a survey in 133 large cities in the 27 states in the country, carried out from August 24-27. Respondents answered a question on whether children under the age of three years had missed any scheduled vaccinations during the pandemic, and available vaccination cards were photographed for later examination.ResultsSIPNI data showed that, relative to January and February 2020, there was a decline of about 20% in vaccines administered to children aged two months or older during March and April, when social distancing was at the highest level in the country. After May, vaccination levels returned to pre-pandemic values. Survey data, based on the interviews and on examination of the vaccine cards, showed that 19.0% (95% CI 17.0;21.1%) and 20.6% (95% CI 19.0;23.1%) of children, respectively, had missed immunizations. Missed doses were most common in the North (Amazon) region and least common in the South and Southeast, and also more common among children from poor than from wealthy families.InterpretationOur results show that the pandemic was associated with a reduction of about 20% in child vaccinations, but this was reverted in recent months. Children from poor families and from the least developed regions of the country were most affected. There is an urgent need to booster immunization activities in the country to compensate for missed doses, and to reduce geographic and socioeconomic inequalities.

To evaluate the National Immunization Program Immunization Surveillance System, based on its Vaccination Record module, for Brazil in 2017.This was a descriptive study using the Guidelines for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/Atlanta/GA/United States) to evaluate the attributes of simplicity, flexibility, data quality, sensitivity, timeliness and usefulness of the system for six vaccines on the child immunization schedule.The Immunization Surveillance System was considered complex in its description; flexible to changes in the immunization schedule; of poor data quality for the DTP and rotavirus vaccines; regular acceptability; high sensitivity for the BCG vaccine; untimely for the hepatitis B vaccine and useful for the purposes of the National Immunization Program.The data quality, acceptability and timeliness results were not satisfactory, so that actions are needed to enhance the information system.Avaliar o Sistema de Vigilância em Imunizações considerando-se o módulo Registro do Vacinado, do Sistema de Informações do Programa Nacional de Imunizações, Brasil, 2017.Estudo descritivo, utilizando-se do Guidelines for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems, publicado pelo Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/Atlanta/GA/United States), para avaliar os atributos de simplicidade, flexibilidade, qualidade dos dados, sensibilidade, oportunidade e utilidade do sistema para seis vacinas do calendário de vacinação da criança.O Sistema de Vigilância em Imunizações foi considerado complexo em sua descrição, flexível às mudanças no calendário vacinal, de baixa qualidade dos dados para as vacinas DTP e rotavírus, de aceitabilidade regular, com alta sensibilidade para a vacina BCG, inoportuno para a vacina contra hepatite B e útil às finalidades do Programa Nacional de Imunizações.Qualidade dos dados, aceitabilidade e oportunidade não apresentaram resultados satisfatórios, sendo necessárias ações pelo aprimoramento do sistema de informações.Comparar estructura y proceso de trabajo en atención primaria para implementar la teleconsulta médica en municipios de diferentes regiones y tamaños (mil habitantes:25; 25-100;100).Estudio transversal, con análisis descriptivo y bivariado, datos de 2017-2018 para evaluar la disponibilidad de computadora con internet, cámara, micrófono, altavoz y proceso de trabajo (uso de Telesalud, centro de regulación central y flujo de comunicación).Se analizaron 30.346 unidades y 38.865 grupos. La presencia de equipos de teleconsulta osciló entre 1,2% en los grandes municipios del Norte y 26,7% en pequeños municipios del Sur. El proceso de trabajo osciló entre 10,7% en pequeños municipios del Norte y 39,5% en grandes municipios del Sur. En comparación con el Sur, municipios medianos del Norte (OR=0,14 - IC95% 0,11;0,17) y Nordeste (OR=0,21 - IC95% 0,18;0,25) tenían menos probabilidades de contar con los equipos necesarios.Existe la necesidad de inversiones en Salud Digital, con desigualdades regionales relevantes.

In Brazil, more than two centuries have passed since the first time (1804) the vaccine was administered as a control measure to prevent smallpox. Exactly a century later (1904), an epidemic of this disease led the President of the Republic Rodrigues Alves, to establish the obligation of the vaccination. In the same year, the hygienist Osvaldo Cruz coordinated the mass vaccination of the Rio de Janeiro`s population in order to control the epidemic. This movement generated a historical episode known as “The Vaccine Revolt” characterized by population rebellion and rejection to the measure adopted, culminating in the suspension of mandatory vaccination.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an adapted version of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) methodology for rapid monitoring of vaccination coverage and its use as a supervisory tool to guide decision-making and strategies for end-stage vaccination activities ("mopup" operations) following a six-week national rubella elimination campaign in Brazil. METHODS: Vaccination coverage assessments modeled on a variation of PAHO's rapid house-to-house coverage monitoring methodology were conducted by Brazilian municipalities following mass immunization of adults and adolescents from August to December 2008. Results of monitoring assessments conducted in 3 658 (65.7%) of 5 564 municipalities were reported to Brazil's National Immunization Program. RESULTS: Information on vaccination against rubella was obtained from more than 1.5 million Brazilians (2.1% of the 70.1 million people targeted for immunization) during vaccination coverage monitoring. According to the assessment data, vaccination targets of 95% coverage were reached in 2 175 (59.5%) of the 3 658 municipalities that reported results. The percentage of municipalities that reached coverage targets was lower than administrative coverage estimates (number of vaccine doses administered divided by the immunization target population). These results informed targeted "mop-up" campaigns to reach unvaccinated populations. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid coverage monitoring implemented at the local level proved useful for deciding when to conclude vaccination activities and where to focus additional efforts to achieve desired coverage.Describir una versión adaptada de la metodología de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) para el monitoreo rápido de la cobertura de vacunación. Exponer su uso como herramienta de supervisión para guiar la toma de decisiones y las estrategias para las actividades de vacunación finales (campañas "de barrido") después de una campaña nacional de eliminación de la rubéola de 6 semanas de duración en el Brasil. MÉTODOS: Los municipios brasileños llevaron a cabo una evaluación de la cobertura de vacunación basada en una variante de la metodología de monitoreo rápido "casa por casa" de la OPS, después de una campaña masiva de vacunación de adultos y adolescentes efectuada entre agosto y diciembre del 2008. Los resultados de las evaluaciones de seguimiento realizadas en 3 658 (65,7%) de 5 564 municipios se comunicaron al Programa Nacional de Vacunación del Brasil. RESULTADOS: Mediante el monitoreo de la cobertura de vacunación se obtuvo información sobre la vacunación antirrubeólica de más de 1,5 millones de brasileños (2,1% de los 70,1 millones de destinatarios de la inmunización). Según estos datos, se alcanzó la meta de vacunación (cobertura del 95%) en 2 175 (59,5%) de los 3 658 municipios que presentaron resultados. El porcentaje de municipios que alcanzaron la meta de cobertura fue menor que las estimaciones de cobertura administrativa (cantidad de dosis de vacuna administradas dividida por la población destinataria de la inmunización). Estos resultados se usaron para las campañas de vacunación "de barrido" a fin de alcanzar a las poblaciones no vacunadas. CONCLUSIONES: El monitoreo rápido de la cobertura de vacunación en el nivel local resultó útil para decidir cuándo concluir las actividades de vacunación y en qué aspectos se debían concentrar los esfuerzos posteriores para lograr la cobertura deseada.

Brazil recommends universal yellow fever (YF) vaccination for children who reside in or travel to endemic areas. We conducted a household survey to calculate YF vaccine coverage among children 18-30 months of age in 27 capital cities. A total of 9285 children were surveyed in the 15 cities with YF fever universal vaccination; 7290 (79%) had documented evidence of YF vaccination by 12 months of age, 7996 (86%) by 18 months of age, and 8479 (91%) prior to the survey. In 12 cities with selective YF vaccination coverage was only 1% by 18 months of age. YF fever vaccination can be improved to reach all children where vaccine is recommended.

To describe an adapted version of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) methodology for rapid monitoring of vaccination coverage and its use as a supervisory tool to guide decision-making and strategies for end-stage vaccination activities ("mop-up" operations) following a six-week national rubella elimination campaign in Brazil.Vaccination coverage assessments modeled on a variation of PAHO's rapid house-to-house coverage monitoring methodology were conducted by Brazilian municipalities following mass immunization of adults and adolescents from August to December 2008. Results of monitoring assessments conducted in 3 658 (65.7%) of 5 564 municipalities were reported to Brazil's National Immunization Program.Information on vaccination against rubella was obtained from more than 1.5 million Brazilians (2.1% of the 70.1 million people targeted for immunization) during vaccination coverage monitoring. According to the assessment data, vaccination targets of 95% coverage were reached in 2 175 (59.5%) of the 3 658 municipalities that reported results. The percentage of municipalities that reached coverage targets was lower than administrative coverage estimates (number of vaccine doses administered divided by the immunization target population). These results informed targeted "mop-up" campaigns to reach unvaccinated populations.Rapid coverage monitoring implemented at the local level proved useful for deciding when to conclude vaccination activities and where to focus additional efforts to achieve desired coverage.