Poliovirus vaccination coverage in Brazil declined from 95.4% in 2015 to 84.2% in 2022, with the North and Northeast having the lowest rates at 72.1% and 78.3%, respectively.
What is the prevalence and trend of polio vaccination coverage in Brazil between 2019 and 2024?
Polio vaccination coverage in Brazil has declined below the 95% target, increasing the risk of outbreaks and highlighting significant regional disparities.
Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%
Poliomyelitis, a highly contagious viral disease that can lead to irreversible paralysis, was considered eliminated in the Americas in 1994 due to mass immunization efforts. However, maintaining high vaccination coverage is essential to prevent reintroduction of the virus, especially in a global context in which endemic countries still exist. In Brazil, the National Immunization Program recommends oral and inactivated polio vaccines, but worrying declines in coverage have been observed. This study sought to consolidate data on the prevalence of polio vaccination in Brazil in the last five years, identifying trends, regional disparities and factors associated with low adherence. Vaccination coverage against poliomyelitis in Brazil between 2019 and 2024 was analyzed, assessing its prevalence, regional inequalities and possible causes of reduced immunization. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, SciELO, LILACS and Google Scholar, including articles published between 2019 and 2024: epidemiological studies, systematic reviews, government reports and quantitative studies on vaccination coverage in Brazil. Data stratified by region, age group or socioeconomic level and time-trend analyses were also considered. Studies without specific data on poliomyelitis and articles without peer review were excluded. Data were analyzed using random-effects models, calculating weighted prevalences and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Twelve studies were included in the final analysis. The main findings were: (1) coverage of the third dose of polio vaccine (IPV or OPV) fell from 95.4% in 2015 to 84.2% in 2022 (95% CI: 81.5–86.7). In 2023, 67% of Brazilian municipalities reached the coverage target. The North (72.1%) and Northeast (78.3%) had the lowest coverage, whereas the South (86.5%) and Southeast (88.2%) maintained higher rates. Factors identified included misinformation and vaccine hesitancy, access difficulties in rural areas and urban peripheries, and reduced risk perception due to the historical elimination of the disease. Conclusion : The prevalence of polio vaccination in Brazil has declined, with regional inequalities. The drop below the 95% target increases the risk of outbreaks, requiring strategies such as awareness campaigns, strengthening primary care and combating misinformation.
Marchelli et al. (Sun,) reported a other. Poliovirus vaccination coverage in Brazil declined from 95.4% in 2015 to 84.2% in 2022, with the North and Northeast having the lowest rates at 72.1% and 78.3%, respectively.