Self-reported COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Venezuela: Results of national sample surveys (June-December 2021)
Gaceta Medica de Caracas
; 130:S459-S469, 2022.
Article
in English
| Scopus | ID: covidwho-1995013
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Unlike many Latin American countries, Venezuela has not had an official record of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered during the pandemic. This paper is the first report on COVID-19 vaccination coverage using household sample surveys. M ethods The paper systematizes preliminary reports with results of questions included in national surveys conducted in Venezuela in June, August, September, November, and December 2021, to estimate COVID-19 vaccination coverage. All surveys were conducted in population centers of 1 000 and more inhabitants. In each survey, 1 200 persons aged 18 years and older were interviewed in their homes.Results:
Full coverage (two doses of COVID-19 vaccine) increased from 8.1 % of the total population in August to 50 % in the 18 years and older age group in December 2021. The age group with consistently higher coverage is 50 years and older. At the end of 2021, the full coverage of this population group was 72.3 %. Full coverage is higher in the Metropolitan District of Caracas (MDC). Refusal to vaccinate, within the unvaccinated population, decreased from 25 % in August to 9.6 % in November 2021. The most frequent reason for not wanting to be vaccinated is distrust of the vaccine (34.1 %). The Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines (together) were the most frequently administered (72.7 %).Discussion:
Venezuela has registered vaccination coverage against COVID-19, which places it among the lowest-performing countries in the region. Complete vaccination coverage against COVID-19 had not exceeded 50 % of the population aged 18 years and older by the end of 2021.Conclusions:
The failure in Venezuela to develop a high-performing COVID-19 vaccination program has conditioned both the management of the pandemic and the weighing of its effects. © 2022 Academia Nacional de Medicina. All rights reserved.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
Scopus
Type of study:
Observational study
Topics:
Vaccines
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Venezuela
Language:
English
Journal:
Gaceta Medica de Caracas
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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