Description of vaccination coverage and hesitancy obtained by epidemiological survey of children born in 2017-2018, in Belo Horizonte and Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To describe vaccination coverage and hesitation for the basic children's schedule in Belo Horizonte and Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. METHODS: Population-based epidemiological surveys performed from 2020 to 2022, which estimated vaccine coverage by type of immunobiological product and full schedule (valid and ministered doses), according to socioeconomic strata; and reasons for vaccination hesitancy. RESULTS: Overall coverage with valid doses and vaccination hesitancy for at least one vaccine were, respectively, 50.2% (95%CI 44.1;56.2) and 1.6% (95%CI 0.9;2.7), in Belo Horizonte (n = 1,866), and 64.9% (95%CI 56.9;72.1) and 1.0% (95%CI 0.3;2.8), in Sete Lagoas (n = 451), with differences between socioeconomic strata. Fear of severe reactions was the main reason for vaccination hesitancy. CONCLUSION: Coverage was identified as being below recommended levels for most vaccines. Disinformation should be combated in order to avoid vaccination hesitancy. There is a pressing need to recover coverages, considering public health service access and socioeconomic disparities. MAIN RESULTS: Vaccination coverage of children up to 4 years old was 50.2% in Belo Horizonte, and 64.9% in Sete Lagoas. Fear of severe reactions and believing that vaccination against eradicated diseases is unnecessary were the main reasons for vaccination hesitancy. IMPLICATIONS FOR SERVICES: Recovery of high vaccination coverage among children, considering public health service access conditions and socioeconomic inequities. Acting on reasons for hesitancy that can assist in targeting actions. PERSPECTIVES: The multifactorial context of vaccination hesitancy demands the development of health education strategies to raise awareness about child immunization.

Racial inequalities in child vaccination and barriers to vaccination in Brazil among live births in 2017 and 2018: an analysis of a retrospective cohort of the first two years of life.

OBJECTIVE: To describe timely vaccination completion and obstacles in the first 24 months of life in Brazil, examining associations with maternal race/skin color. METHODS: Study participants were 37,801 children born in 2017 and 2018 included in the National Immunization Coverage Survey. We calculated prevalence and 95% confidence intervals for timely vaccine completeness and obstacles at 5, 12 and 24 months of life, according to maternal race/skin color. Associations were analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: 7.2% (95%CI 6.3;8.2) of mothers faced difficulties in taking their children to be vaccinated, and 23.4% (95%CI 21.7;25.1) were not vaccinated when taken. These proportions were 75% (95%CI 1.25;2.45) and 97% (95%CI 1.57;2.48) higher, respectively, among Black mothers. At least one vaccination was delayed among 49.9% (95%CI 47.8;51.9) and 61.1% (95%CI 59.2;63.0) of children by 5 and 12 months, respectively. These rates were higher among Black/mixed race mothers. CONCLUSION: There are racial inequalities in both the obstacles faced and in vaccination rates in Brazil. MAIN RESULTS: Marked racial inequalities were found in the obstacles to vaccination of children under 24 months in Brazil and to timely vaccination at 5 months and in the first year of life. IMPLICATIONS FOR SERVICES: Racial inequalities in the occurrence of vaccination shortcomings in health services, in the objective restrictions faced by families in taking their children to vaccination centers and in incomplete vaccination in a timely manner need to be addressed by the Brazilian National Health System. PERSPECTIVES: Equal public policies to address barriers to vaccination and qualification of health services need to be implemented. Studies need to deepen understanding of the structural determinants that lead to racial disparities.

Description of vaccination coverage and hesitancy obtained by epidemiological survey of children born in 2017-2018, in Belo Horizonte and Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil / Descripción de la cobertura de vacuna y de las vacunaciones obtenidas por la encuesta epidemiológica de niños nacidos en 2017-2018, en Belo Horizonte y Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais / Descrição da cobertura e da hesitação vacinal obtida por inquérito epidemiológico de crianças nascidas em 2017-2018, em Belo Horizonte e Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais

ABSTRACT Objective To describe vaccination coverage and hesitation for the basic children's schedule in Belo Horizonte and Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Methods Population-based epidemiological surveys performed from 2020 to 2022, which estimated vaccine coverage by type of immunobiological product and full schedule (valid and ministered doses), according to socioeconomic strata; and reasons for vaccination hesitancy. Results Overall coverage with valid doses and vaccination hesitancy for at least one vaccine were, respectively, 50.2% (95%CI 44.1;56.2) and 1.6% (95%CI 0.9;2.7), in Belo Horizonte (n = 1,866), and 64.9% (95%CI 56.9;72.1) and 1.0% (95%CI 0.3;2.8), in Sete Lagoas (n = 451), with differences between socioeconomic strata. Fear of severe reactions was the main reason for vaccination hesitancy. Conclusion Coverage was identified as being below recommended levels for most vaccines. Disinformation should be combated in order to avoid vaccination hesitancy. There is a pressing need to recover coverages, considering public health service access and socioeconomic disparities.

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RESUMO Objetivo Descrever as coberturas e hesitação das vacinas do calendário básico infantil em Belo Horizonte e Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais. Métodos Inquéritos epidemiológicos de base populacional realizados de 2020 a 2022, para estimar coberturas vacinais por tipo de imunobiológico e esquema completo (doses válidas e aplicadas) segundo estratos socioeconômicos, e os motivos de hesitação vacinal. Resultados A cobertura global com doses válidas e a hesitação vacinal de pelo menos uma vacina foram, respectivamente, de 50,2% (IC95% 44,1;56,2) e 1,6% (IC95% 0,9;2,7), em Belo Horizonte (n = 1.866), e de 64,9% (IC95% 56,9;72,1) e 1,0% (IC95% 0,3;2,8), em Sete Lagoas (n = 451), com diferenças entre os estratos. O receio de reações graves foi o principal motivo de hesitação vacinal. Conclusão Identificou-se coberturas abaixo do preconizado para a maioria das vacinas. A desinformação deve ser combatida, evitando-se a hesitação vacinal. Há necessidade premente de recuperar as coberturas, considerando acesso ao SUS e disparidades socioeconômicas.

Racial inequalities in child vaccination and barriers to vaccination in Brazil among live births in 2017 and 2018: an analysis of a retrospective cohort of the first two years of life / Desigualdades raciales en la vacunación infantil y obstáculos para la vacunación en Brazil entre nacidos vivos en 2017 y 2018: análisis de uma cohorte retrospectiva de los dos primeros años de vida / Desigualdades raciais na vacinação infantil e nos obstáculos à vacinação no Brasil entre nascidos vivos em 2017 e 2018: análise de uma coorte retrospectiva dos dois primeiros anos de vida

ABSTRACT Objective To describe timely vaccination completion and obstacles in the first 24 months of life in Brazil, examining associations with maternal race/skin color. Methods Study participants were 37,801 children born in 2017 and 2018 included in the National Immunization Coverage Survey. We calculated prevalence and 95% confidence intervals for timely vaccine completeness and obstacles at 5, 12 and 24 months of life, according to maternal race/skin color. Associations were analyzed using logistic regression. Results 7.2% (95%CI 6.3;8.2) of mothers faced difficulties in taking their children to be vaccinated, and 23.4% (95%CI 21.7;25.1) were not vaccinated when taken. These proportions were 75% (95%CI 1.25;2.45) and 97% (95%CI 1.57;2.48) higher, respectively, among Black mothers. At least one vaccination was delayed among 49.9% (95%CI 47.8;51.9) and 61.1% (95%CI 59.2;63.0) of children by 5 and 12 months, respectively. These rates were higher among Black/mixed race mothers. Conclusion There are racial inequalities in both the obstacles faced and in vaccination rates in Brazil.

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RESUMO Objetivo Descrever a completude vacinal em tempo oportuno nos primeiros 24 meses de vida no Brasil e os obstáculos para vacinação, testando-se associações com raça/cor da pele materna. Métodos Fez-se coleta de informações sobre os nascidos em 2017 e 2018, constantes no Inquérito Nacional de Cobertura Vacinal. Foram calculados prevalência e intervalos de confiança de 95% de obstáculos à vacinação e completude vacinal em tempo oportuno aos 5 meses, primeiro e segundo ano, segundo raça/cor da pele materna. Empregou-se regressão logística para análise de associações. Resultados Analisaram-se dados de 37.801 crianças. Do total, 7,2% (IC95% 6,3;8,2) dos responsáveis enfrentaram dificuldades para levar seus filhos para vacinação e 23,4% (IC95% 21,7;25,1) das crianças não foram vacinadas, mesmo sendo levadas. Essas proporções foram 75% (IC95% 1,25;2,45) e 97% (IC95% 1,57;2,48) mais elevadas, respectivamente, entre pretas; e 49,9% (IC95% 47,8;51,9) e 61,1% (IC95% 59,2;63,0) das crianças tiveram atraso em alguma vacina até os 5 meses e o primeiro ano, respectivamente. Tais valores foram maiores entre pardas/pretas. Conclusão Há desigualdades raciais nos obstáculos enfrentados e na vacinação no Brasil.

National Vaccine Coverage Survey 2020: methods and operational aspects.

OBJECTIVE: The national vaccination coverage survey on full vaccination at 12 and 24 months of age was carried out to investigate drops in coverage as of 2016. METHODS: A sample of 37,836 live births from the 2017 or 2018 cohorts living in capital cities, the Federal District, and 12 inner cities with 100 thousand inhabitants were followed for the first 24 months through vaccine record cards. Census tracts stratified according to socioeconomic levels had the same number of children included in each stratum. Coverage for each vaccine, full vaccination at 12 and 24 months and number of doses administered, valid and timely, were calculated. Family, maternal and child factors associated with coverage were surveyed. The reasons for not vaccinating analyzed were: medical contraindications, access difficulties, problems with the program, and vaccine hesitancy. RESULTS: Preliminary results showed that less than 1% of children were not vaccinated, full coverage was less than 75% at all capitals and the Federal District, vaccines requiring more than one dose progressively lost coverage, and there were inequalities among socioeconomic strata, favorable to the highest level in some cities and to the lowest in others. CONCLUSION: There was an actual reduction in full vaccination in all capitals and the Federal District for children born in 2017 and 2018, showing a deteriorating implementation of the National Immunization Program from 2017 to 2019. The survey did not measure the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have further reduced vaccination coverage.