Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on immunization with pneumococcal vaccines in children and older adults in Brazil

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted individuals, resulting in long-lasting consequences. One of the effects has been a decline in vaccine adherence attributed to physical distancing measures, potentially contributing to the resurgence of preventable diseases, and posing diagnostic challenges. Consequently, monitoring immunization rates becomes crucial as an indicator for health promotion campaigns and to mitigate the strain on healthcare systems. This study aims to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on immunization with pneumococcal vaccines in children and older adults in Brazil from 2018 to 2021. Data was collected from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System, focusing on the number of doses administered and vaccination coverage with pneumococcal vaccines across the country. A total of 21,780,450 doses were administered, with a decline of 19.97% in vaccine coverage throughout the evaluation period. An overall negative trend was observed in the time series analysis for all states in Brazil. However, not all showed a statistically significant change associated with the pandemic. Therefore, it is essential for states that experienced a decline in vaccination rates during the COVID-19 pandemic to closely monitor changes in pneumococcal vaccination. Failure in the process may lead to an increase in pneumococcal infections and place an additional burden on the healthcare system.