Search

The objective of this article was to consider the vaccination challenges in Colombia and Peru and the role of pediatric combination vaccines in overcoming these challenges. Barriers to including new vaccines with more antigens remain apparent in parts of these countries, where vaccine-preventable diseases in infants continue to be a major problem. The challenges include the heterogeneity of vaccine coverage within each country and in neighboring countries, which can contribute to poor rates of vaccination coverage; the adverse impact of the inward migration of unvaccinated individuals, which has favored the re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases; vaccine shortages; and the impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV- 2) pandemic and the associated shifts in health care resources. To improve the coverage of pediatric vaccines in Colombia and Peru, it will be necessary to ensure the widespread integration into vaccine schedules of combination vaccines containing diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated poliovirus, Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B antigens with a three-dose primary series delivered at 2, 4 and 6 months of age followed by a booster at 18 months of age. Such vaccines play important roles in preventing diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; eradicating polio; and providing boosting against H. influenzae type b. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pneumococcal diseases have a clinical and economic impact on the population. Until this year, a 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV10) used to be applied in Colombia, which does not contain serotypes 19A, 3, and 6A, the most prevalent in the country. Therefore, we aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of the shift to the 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13). A decision model was used for newborns in Colombia between 2022–2025 and adults over 65 years. The time horizon was life expectancy. Outcomes are Invasive Pneumococcal Diseases (IPD), Community-Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), Acute Otitis Media (AOM), their sequelae, Life Gained Years (LYGs), and herd effect in older adults. PCV10 covers 4.27% of serotypes in the country, while PCV13 covers 64.4%. PCV13 would avoid in children 796 cases of IPD, 19,365 of CAP, 1,399 deaths, and generate 44,204 additional LYGs, as well as 9,101 cases of AOM, 13 cases of neuromotor disability and 428 cochlear implants versus PCV10. In older adults, PCV13 would avoid 993 cases of IPD and 17,245 of CAP, versus PCV10. PCV13 saves $51.4 million. The decision model shows robustness in the sensitivity analysis. PCV13 is a cost-saving strategy versus PCV10 to avoid pneumococcal diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to describe the trends in mortality from eight vaccine-preventable diseases in Colombia in the last 40 years and their relationship with vaccination coverage. It is a population-based descriptive study. The frequencies of deaths by decade, disease, sex, and the specific mortality rates by age group were calculated. Using a negative binomial regression model, the 10-year changes in mortality and their relationship with vaccination coverage were determined. The number of deaths and the adjusted rates decreased since 1989 in all diseases (incidence rate ratio <1 when compared with the 1979–1988 decade). Vaccination coverage below 90% is associated with an increase in mortality from diphtheria, measles, mumps, neonatal tetanus, and pertussis. Historical changes in mortality support the benefits of vaccination, but new efforts are required to sustain the elimination of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim was to estimate the vaccination timeliness defined as the proportion of children under 6 years of age who received their immunization in the time range established by the Colombian Expanded Immunization Program (EIP). A retrospective cohort study that collected reports of vaccination opportunities between 2014 and 2019 provided by the Ministry of Health. Age, sex, city, ethnicity, health system affiliation regimen, vaccine applied, and timing of vaccination were considered for the time range under study. A total of 3,370,853 immunized children were included from all regions of the country. More than 80% of children had a timeliness to get most vaccines. The exceptions were yellow fever (17%) and seasonal influenza (42%). No differences in timeliness were found according to geographic region or by health system affiliation regime, but the average timeliness for all vaccines of children of the indigenous population (65.8% ±18.4%) was lower than that of the rest of the population (78·6% ± 19·3%) ( p  = 0·021). The timeliness for vaccination under the EIP of Colombia is high, with proportions of 72-96%, but intergroup differences were identified, mainly lower timeliness among indigenous people. These findings warrant improvement strategies that would guarantee the immunization of the entire child population.

Introduction. The population´s lack of interest in being vaccinated against coronavirus is a problem for pandemic management. Objective. To estimates the lack of interest in receiving the coronavirus vaccine in the population of 23 Colombian cities between July and December 2020. Methods. A descriptive study using information from the Social Pulse Survey – DANE- was done. The Social Pulse Survey asked participants about their interest to get the vaccine and the reasons for refusing it. The Prevalence of interest in not receiving the vaccine and differences between December to July were estimated. Results. The prevalence was highest in women, people over 54 years of age, population without schooling, households with two people or less, poor groups, and cities like Cali and Bucaramanga. Differences between December and July showed a further increase in people under 25 years of Santa Marta and Cartagena. The main reason for refusing the vaccine was the belief that this may be unsafe due to potential side effects. There were geographic and demographic variations in the prevalence of non-acceptance. Conclusions. This research can help health authorities to develop policies related to education and communication strategies that could increase the confidence in the efficacy and safety of the vaccine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In March 2015, a patient in Colombia with HIV/AIDS was hospitalized for disseminated ulcers after milking cows that had vesicular lesions on their udders. Vaccinia virus was detected, and the case met criteria for progressive vaccinia acquired by zoonotic transmission. Adherence to an optimized antiretroviral regimen resulted in recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determined the coverage and timeliness of immunization in children <6 y from Risaralda, Colombia. A retrospective cross-sectional study evaluated data from a vaccination coverage and timeliness verification survey conducted in 2019, including 2457 children <6 y from Risaralda, Colombia. Variables included demographics, a record of vaccinations included in the Colombian Vaccination Plan, and date of immunization. Vaccination was defined as timely until 29 d after the day established by the plan. Coverage was over 95% for all vaccinations, except the boosters of diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DTP) and oral polio at 18 months (91.0%), influenza (85.6%), and yellow fever (49.2%). Most surveyed children demonstrated very high timeliness of vaccination, with values close to, or over, 90%, although there were exceptions for pentavalent (DTP+ Haemophilus influenzae type B+hepatitis B) and polio vaccines at 6 months (79.4%), influenza (85.6%), and yellow fever (49.2%). Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Colombian Vaccination Plan demonstrated high coverage and timeliness of vaccination of children <6 y of age; however, timeliness for the third dose of DTP-Hib-HBV and polio showed opportunities for improvement.