ABSTRACT
This article describes some of the actions taken by the Colombian health system in order to improve the response capacity to the COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and correct some of the structural failures of the system that threatened the effectiveness of the response. The evolution of some epidemiological markers of the impact of the pandemic is also presented, between March 2020 and September 2021, which can help to unders-tand whether the measures taken could mitigate the impact of the pandemic or not. Among the actions that could most influence the epidemiological outcomes (cases and deaths) of the pandemic, we can highlight the increase in the number of Intensive Care Unit beds (from 5 000 to 11 000 approximately) and the steps taken to acquire vaccines in a highly competitive international market which preferred to provide vaccines first to industrialized countries than to less developed ones. Despite these efforts, the draconian isolation measures, and the suspension of many economic activities, during the study period, Colombia was one of the 15 countries with the highest mortality in the world and more than 60% of the population became infected after the first wave of the pandemic. This suggests a low effectiveness of the efforts made to strengthen the health system. © 2022, Universidad Nacional de Colombia. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective Colombia designed and adopted a vaccination plan against COVID-19 that will immunize 35 million people. The study aim was to detect the level of willingness to accept vaccination against COVID-19. Methods A telephone survey of 11,721 people aged 80 and over, affiliated with a health insurer, was carried out. The respondents were the affiliates or their relatives or caregivers. Results The average age was 85.0 years (SD: 4.5), with no differences between sexes;3,344 (28.5%) referred to a previous diagnostic test for COVID-19 and 73 were positive, giving an incidence of 622.8 per 100,000 people (95% CI: 491-778). Regarding attitude to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, 1/4 respondents refrained from giving an opinion or were neutral. When the respondent was a relative, the acceptance of the vaccine was 60.4% (95% CI: 59.5-61.3) with differences by gender: men 62.2% (95% CI: 60.8-63.6) and women 59.2 (95% CI: 58.0-60.3), P < .05. When the respondent was the potential recipient of the vaccine, the acceptance of the vaccine was 61.7% (95% CI: 59.4-64.0) and this also differed by gender: 70.2% in men (95% CI: 66, 9-73.5) and 55.1% in women (95% CI: 52.0-58.3), P < .05. Conclusion The relatively low acceptance of vaccination against COVID-19 in Colombia poses significant challenges to achieve herd immunity that would allow control of the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Resumen Objetivo Colombia diseñó y adoptó un plan de vacunación contra la COVID-19. El objetivo de esta investigación fue conocer la disposición para aceptar la vacunación contra esa enfermedad de personas de 80 y más años. Métodos Se realizó una encuesta telefónica a 11.721 personas de 80 y más años, afiliadas a una aseguradora de salud, en la que se indagó sobre la intención a recibir la vacuna. Los respondientes fueron los afiliados o sus familiares o cuidadores. Resultados El promedio de edad fue 85,0 años (SD: 4,5), sin diferencias entre sexos;3.344 participantes (28,5%) refirieron el antecedente de haberse realizado una prueba diagnóstica previa de COVID-19 y 73 resultaron positivos. La incidencia acumulada de infección por SARS-CoV-2 desde marzo de 2020 fue de 622,8 por 100.000 personas (IC95%: 491-778 por 100.000). Respecto a la actitud hacia la vacunación contra la COVID-19, uno de cada 4 respondientes se abstuvo de opinar o se manifestó neutro. Cuando el respondiente era un familiar, la aceptación de la vacuna era del 60,4% (IC95%: 59,5-61,3) con diferencias por sexo: entre los hombres era del 62,2% (IC95%: 60,8-63,6) y en mujeres del 59,2 (IC95%: 58,0-60,3), con p<0,05. Cuando el respondiente fue el potencial receptor de la vacuna, la aceptación de la vacuna fue del 61,7% (IC95%: 59,4-64,0) y también difería por sexos: 70,2% en hombres (IC95%: 66,9-73,5) y 55,1% en mujeres (IC95%: 52,0-58,3), con p<0,05. Conclusión La relativamente baja aceptación de la vacunación contra la COVID-19 en Colombia plantea retos importantes para lograr el control de la pandemia. Objective Colombia designed and adopted a vaccination plan against COVID-19 that will immunize 35 million people. The study aim was to detect the level of willingness to accept vaccination against COVID-19. Methods A telephone survey of 11,721 people aged 80 and over, affiliated with a health insurer, was carried out. The respondents were the affiliates or their relatives or caregivers. Results The average age was 85.0 years (SD: 4.5), with no differences between sexes;3,344 (28.5%) referred to a previous diagnostic test for COVID-19 and 73 were positive, giving an incidence of 622.8 per 100,000 people (95% CI: 491-778). Regarding attitude to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, 1/4 respondents refrained from giving an opinion or were neutral. When the respondent was a relative, the acceptance of the vaccine was 60.4% (95% CI: 59.5-61.3) with differences by gender: men 62.2% (95% CI: 60.8-63.6) and women 59.2 (95% CI: 58.0-60.3), P<.05. When the respondent was the potential recipient of the vaccine, the acceptance of the vaccine was 61.7% (95% CI: 59.4-64.0) and this also differed by gender: 70.2% in men (95% CI: 66, 9-73.5) and 55.1% in women (95% CI: 52.0-58.3), P<.05. Conclusion The relatively low acceptance of vaccination against COVID-19 in Colombia poses significant challenges to achieve herd immunity that would allow control of the pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Objective: Colombia designed and adopted a vaccination plan against COVID-19 that will immunize 35 million people. The aim study was to know the willingness to accept the vaccination against COVID-19. Methods: A telephone survey of 11,721 people aged 80 and over, affiliated with a health insurer, was carried. The respondents were the affiliates or their relatives or caregivers. Results: The average age was 85.0 years (SD: 4.5), with no differences between sexes; 3,344 (28.5%) referred a previous diagnostic test for COVID-19 and 73 were positive for an incidence of 622.8 per 100,000 people (95%CI: 491-778). Regarding the attitude with the vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, 1/4 respondents refrained from giving an opinion or was neutral. When the respondent was a relative, the acceptance of the vaccine was 60.4% (95% CI: 59.5-61.3) with differences by gender: men 62.2% (95% CI: 60.8-63.6) and women of 59.2 (95% CI: 58.0-60.3), P < 0.05. When the respondent was the potential recipient of the vaccine, the acceptance of the vaccine was 61.7% (95% CI: 59.4-64.0) and also differed by gender: 70.2% in men (95% CI: 66, 9-73.5) and 55.1% in women (95% CI: 52.0-58.3), P < 0.05. Conclusion: The relatively low acceptance of vaccination against COVID-19 in Colombia poses significant challenges to achieve herd immunity that allows control of the pandemic.