ANÁLISE DA COBERTURA DA VACINA CONTRA HEPATITE B ANTES E DURANTE A PANDEMIA DE COVID-19 EM MENORES DE UM ANO NO BRASIL

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.0992407022

• Palavras-chave: Cobertura Vacinal; COVID-19; Doenças Preveníveis por Vacina; Programas de Imunização; Vacinas contra Hepatite B

• Keywords: Vaccine Coverage; COVID-19; Vaccine-Preventable Diseases; Immunization Programs; Hepatitis B Vaccines

• Abstract: Vaccination practices represent the safest and most cost-effective strategy for eradicating vaccine-preventable diseases. Among these diseases, Hepatitis B (HB) stands out as a global public health concern, impacting millions of individuals worldwide. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic has induced changes in population lifestyle habits and instilled fear due to the risk of contagion, directly affecting vaccine coverage, particularly for childhood immunizations. This chapter aims to compare the coverage of the HB vaccine in children under 1 year of age before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, considering Brazilian States (Unidades Federadas, UF) and Regions. Utilizing data from the National Immunization Program, an ecological study was conducted. Differences in HB vaccine coverage before (January 2018 to March 2020) and during (April 2020 to November 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, Regions, and UF were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The study revealed a significant reduction in the median HB vaccine coverage in Brazil and the regions: North (-14.04), Northeast (-16.06), Midwest (-9.36), and Southeast (-9.23) (p<0.05). Although the Southern Region exhibited a reduction (-0.95), it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Furthermore, variations in vaccine coverage dynamics were observed among Brazilian regions, with the North (Roraima, Amapá, Rondônia) and Northeast (Pernambuco, Ceará, Paraíba) regions experiencing larger reductions in vaccination indicators. Therefore, the implementation of health policies aimed at enhancing immunization indicators is deemed essential.