Spatial clusters and social inequities in COVID-19 vaccine coverage among children in Brazil.

This study examined the spatial distribution and social inequalities in COVID-19 vaccine coverage among children aged 5-11 in Brazil. First and second dose vaccine coverage was calculated for all Brazilian municipalities and analyzed by geographic region and deciles based on human development index (HDI-M) and expected years of schooling at 18 years of age. Multilevel models were used to determine the variance partition coefficient, and bivariate local Moran's I statistic was used to assess spatial association. Results showed significant differences in vaccine coverage rates among Brazilian municipalities, with lower coverage in the North and Midwest regions. Municipalities with lower HDI and expected years of schooling had consistently lower vaccine coverage rates. Bivariate clustering analysis identified extensive concentrations of municipalities in the Northern and Northeastern regions with low vaccine coverage and low human development, while some clusters of municipalities in the Southeast and South regions with low coverage were located in areas with high HDI-M. These findings highlight the persistent municipal-level inequalities in vaccine coverage among children in Brazil and the need for targeted interventions to improve vaccine access and coverage in underserved areas.

Effect of the use of potentially inappropriate medications on the mortality of Brazilian older adults: SABE cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the association between potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use and the risk of death among community-dwelling older Brazilian adults. METHODS: Participants from the Health, Well-Being, and Aging Cohort Study (SABE) in São Paulo, Brazil, between 2000 and 2016 were included. The dependent variable was all-cause mortality, measured as the time elapsed until death. The exposure of interest was the use of PIM according to the Beers Criteria 2019 version. All covariates, except for sex and education, were considered time-varying. RESULTS: PIM use was not associated with mortality after adjusting for covariates (HR = 0.99; 95 % CI: 0.88-1.12). There was a significant interaction between PIM use and age (HR = 0.98; 95 % CI: 0.96-0.99). CONCLUSION: The association between PIM use and the risk of death was moderated by age. Future studies should consider the impact of necessary medication omissions when assessing the mortality risk associated with PIM use.

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.

Spatial clusters and social inequities in COVID-19 vaccine coverage among children in Brazil / Aglomerados espaciais e desigualdades sociais na cobertura vacinal contra COVID-19 em crianças no Brasil

Abstract This study examined the spatial distribution and social inequalities in COVID-19 vaccine coverage among children aged 5-11 in Brazil. First and second dose vaccine coverage was calculated for all Brazilian municipalities and analyzed by geographic region and deciles based on human development index (HDI-M) and expected years of schooling at 18 years of age. Multilevel models were used to determine the variance partition coefficient, and bivariate local Moran's I statistic was used to assess spatial association. Results showed significant differences in vaccine coverage rates among Brazilian municipalities, with lower coverage in the North and Midwest regions. Municipalities with lower HDI and expected years of schooling had consistently lower vaccine coverage rates. Bivariate clustering analysis identified extensive concentrations of municipalities in the Northern and Northeastern regions with low vaccine coverage and low human development, while some clusters of municipalities in the Southeast and South regions with low coverage were located in areas with high HDI-M. These findings highlight the persistent municipal-level inequalities in vaccine coverage among children in Brazil and the need for targeted interventions to improve vaccine access and coverage in underserved areas.

Resumo O estudo analisou a distribuição espacial e as desigualdades sociais na cobertura vacinal para COVID-19 entre crianças de 5 a 11 anos no Brasil. As coberturas vacinais foram calculadas para os municípios brasileiros e analisadas por região geográfica e decis com base no Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano (IDH-M) e expectativa de escolaridade aos 18 anos. Modelos multiníveis foram usados ​​para determinar o coeficiente de partição da variância, e a estatística local bivariada de Moran I foi usada para avaliar a associação espacial. Os resultados mostraram diferenças significativas nas taxas de cobertura vacinal entre os municípios, com menor cobertura nas regiões Norte e Centro-Oeste. Municípios com menor IDH e anos de escolaridade esperados apresentaram menores taxas de cobertura vacinal. A análise de agrupamento bivariado identificou extensas concentrações de municípios nas regiões Norte e Nordeste com baixa cobertura vacinal e baixo desenvolvimento humano, enquanto alguns aglomerados de municípios nas regiões Sudeste e Sul com baixa cobertura localizavam-se em áreas com alto IDH-M. Essas descobertas destacam as desigualdades persistentes em nível municipal na cobertura vacinal entre crianças e a necessidade de intervenções para melhorar o acesso e a cobertura vacinal em áreas mais vulneráveis.

Access to medicines, the Unified Health System, and intersectional injustices.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of general and public access to prescription drugs in the Brazilian population aged 15 or older in 2019, and to identify inequities in access, according to intersections of gender, color/race, socioeconomic level, and territory. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2019 National Health Survey with respondents aged 15 years or older who had been prescribed a medication in a healthcare service in the two weeks prior to the interview (n = 19,819). The outcome variable was access to medicines, subdivided into general access (public, private and mixed), public access (via the Unified Health System - SUS) for those treated by the SUS, and public access (via the SUS) for those not treated by the SUS. The study's independent variables were used to represent axes of marginalization: gender, color/race, socioeconomic level, and territory. The prevalence of general and public access in the different groups analyzed was calculated and the association of the outcomes with the aforementioned axes was estimated with odds ratios (OR) using logistic regression models. RESULTS: There was a high prevalence of general access (84.9%), when all sources of access were considered, favoring more privileged segments of the population, such as men, white, and those of high socioeconomic status. When only the medicines prescribed in the SUS were considered, there was a low prevalence (30.4% access) that otherwise benefited marginalized population segments, such as women, black, and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS: Access to medicines through the SUS proves to be an instrument for combating intersectional inequities, lending credence to the idea that the SUS is an efficient public policy for promoting social justice.

Correction: The Brazilian vaccine divide: How some municipalities were left behind in the Covid-19 vaccine coverage.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002493.].

Proporção de casos nosocomiais de COVID-19 no Brasil: análise de seus fatores associados em 1.631.47 registros de 2020 a 2022 / Proporción de casos nosocomiales de COVID-19 en Brasil: análisis de sus factores asociados en 1.631.47 registros de 2020 a 2022 / Proportionof nosocomial cases of COVID-19 in Brazil: analysisof1.631.47 case records from 2020 to 2022

Introdução: Infecções nosocomiais, adquiridas após a internação hospitalar, são o evento adverso mais comum que ameaça a saúde dos pacientes hospitalizados, sendo a pneumonia, incluindo a causada pelo SARS-Cov-2, responsável por mais de 80% das infecções nosocomiais. A pandemia declarada pela OMS em março de 2020 reflete o rápido aumento de casos, impulsionado pela disseminação do vírus através de gotículas e aerossóis. A transmissão nosocomial do SARS-Cov-2 foi observada desde o início do surto em Wuhan, representando um desafio adicional na qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Estudos internacionais em hospitais reportam incidências de infecção nosocomial por COVID-19 entre 11% e 44%.Objetivo: Identificar a proporção de infecção nosocomial por SARS-COV-2 no Brasil entre março de 2020 até dezembro de 2022.Metodologia:Trata-se de um estudo analítico, retrospectivo, de corte transversal, sobre a proporção de infecção nosocomial por Sars-Cov-2 no Brasil, através de dados secundários oriundos do Sistema de Informação da Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe. No presente estudo a variável dependente analisada foi a proporção de infecção nosocomial por Sars-cov-2. Como variáveis independentes exploratórias foram utilizadas: faixa etária, sexo, comorbidades e macrorregião de residência. Resultados: O estudo identificou uma proporção de casos nosocomiais de 2,58%, sendo maior no terceiro ano da pandemia 2022 (5,5%) na região Norte (7,57%), entre os indivíduos de 18-59 anos de idade (6,93%)Conclusões: Este estudo sobre casos nosocomiais de COVID-19 no Brasil revela uma proporção de 2,58% entre 2020 e 2022, com associações identificadas em relação à região, idade e comorbidades. Diferenças em relação a estudos internacionais sugerem questões metodológicas específicas. Essa pesquisa é de importância crítica, visto ser de abrangência nacional com grande amplitude, e estabelece uma base sólida para futuros estudos epidemiológicos (AU).

Introduction: Nosocomial infections, acquired after hospital admission, are the most common adverse events threatening patient health, with pneumonia, including that caused by SARS-CoV-2, responsible for over 80% of nosocomial infections. The pandemic declared by the WHO in March 2020 reflects the rapid rise in cases driven by the virus's spread through droplets and aerosols. Nosocomial transmission of SARS-CoV-2 has been observed since the outbreak's onset in Wuhan, posing an additional challenge to patient quality of life. International hospital studies report nosocomial COVID-19 infection rates between 11% and 44%. Objective: Identifying the proportion of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection in Brazil between March 2020 and December 2022.Methodology:This is an analytical, retrospective, cross-sectional study on the proportion of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection in Brazil, using secondary data from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System. In this study, the analyzed dependent variable was the proportionof nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection. The exploratory independent variables included: age group, gender, comorbidities, and macro-region of residence.Results:The study identified a proportion of nosocomial cases of 2.58%, with a higher proportion in the third year of the pandemic, 2022 (5.5%) in the North region (7.57%), among individuals aged 18-59 years (6.93%). Conclusions: This study on nosocomial cases of COVID-19 in Brazil reveals a proportion of 2.58% between 2020 and 2022, with associations identified regarding region, age, and comorbidities. Differences compared to international studies suggest specific methodological issues. This research is of critical importance, given its national scope and broad coverage, and establishes a solid foundation for future epidemiological studies (AU).

Introducción: Las infecciones nosocomiales, adquiridas tras la hospitalización, son el evento adverso más común que amenaza la salud de los pacientes hospitalizados, siendo la neumonía, incluida la causada por el SARS-Cov-2, la responsable de más del 80% de las infecciones. La pandemia declarada por la OMS en marzo de 2020 refleja el rápido aumento de casos, impulsado por la propagación del virus a través de gotitas y aerosoles. La transmisión nosocomial del SRAS-Cov-2 se ha observado desde el inicio del brote en Wuhan, lo que supone un reto adicional para la calidad de vida de los pacientes. Estudios internacionales realizados en hospitales informan de incidencias de infecciones nosocomiales por COVID-19 de entre el 11% y el 44%. Objetivo: Identificar la proporción de infección nosocomial por SARS-CoV-2 en Brasil entre marzo de 2020 y diciembre de 2022. Metodología: Se trata de un estudio analítico, retrospectivo y transversal sobre la proporción de infección nosocomial por SARS-CoV -2 en Brasil, utilizando datos secundarios del Sistema de Información de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de Influenza. La variable dependiente analizada fue la proporción de infección nosocomial por SARS-CoV-2. Como variables independientes exploratorias se utilizaron: grupo de edad, sexo, comorbilidades y macrorregión de residencia. Resultados:El estudio identificó una proporción de casos nosocomiales del 2,58%, siendo mayor en el tercer año de la pandemia de 2022 (5,5%) en la región Norte (7,57%), entre individuos de 18 a 59 años (6,93%). Conclusiones:Este estudio de casos de COVID-19 hospitalizados en Brasil revela una proporción de 2,58% entre 2020 y 2022, con asociaciones identificadas en relación a la región, edad y comorbilidades. Las disparidades en relación a estudios internacionales sugieren la presencia de cuestiones metodológicas específicas. Esta investigación es de extrema importancia para orientar estrategias preventivas y mejorar el control de las infecciones hospitalarias (AU).

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.

Access to medicines, the Unified Health System, and intersectional injustices / Acesso a medicamentos, o Sistema Único de Saúde e as injustiças interseccionais

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of general and public access to prescription drugs in the Brazilian population aged 15 or older in 2019, and to identify inequities in access, according to intersections of gender, color/race, socioeconomic level, and territory. METHODS We analyzed data from the 2019 National Health Survey with respondents aged 15 years or older who had been prescribed a medication in a healthcare service in the two weeks prior to the interview (n = 19,819). The outcome variable was access to medicines, subdivided into general access (public, private and mixed), public access (via the Unified Health System - SUS) for those treated by the SUS, and public access (via the SUS) for those not treated by the SUS. The study's independent variables were used to represent axes of marginalization: gender, color/race, socioeconomic level, and territory. The prevalence of general and public access in the different groups analyzed was calculated and the association of the outcomes with the aforementioned axes was estimated with odds ratios (OR) using logistic regression models. RESULTS There was a high prevalence of general access (84.9%), when all sources of access were considered, favoring more privileged segments of the population, such as men, white, and those of high socioeconomic status. When only the medicines prescribed in the SUS were considered, there was a low prevalence (30.4% access) that otherwise benefited marginalized population segments, such as women, black, and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS Access to medicines through the SUS proves to be an instrument for combating intersectional inequities, lending credence to the idea that the SUS is an efficient public policy for promoting social justice.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Estimar as prevalências de acesso geral e público a medicamentos prescritos na população brasileira com 15 anos ou mais de idade em 2019 e identificar iniquidades de acesso, conforme intersecções de gênero, cor/raça, nível socioeconômico e território. MÉTODOS Foram analisados dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde de 2019 com respondentes de 15 anos ou mais que tiveram prescrição de algum medicamento em atendimento de saúde realizado nas duas semanas anteriores à entrevista (n = 19.819). A variável de desfecho foi o acesso a medicamentos, subdividido em acesso geral (público, privado e misto), acesso público (via Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS) dos atendidos no SUS e acesso público (via SUS) dos não atendidos no SUS. As variáveis independentes do estudo foram utilizadas para representar eixos de marginalização: gênero, cor/raça, nível socioeconômico e território. Foram calculadas as prevalências de acesso geral e acesso público nos diferentes grupos analisados e a associação dos desfechos com os eixos mencionados foi estimada com odds ratios (OR) por meio de modelos de regressão logística. RESULTADOS Foi observada alta prevalência de acesso geral (84,9%), quando consideradas todas as fontes de obtenção, favorecendo segmentos populacionais de maior privilégio, como homens, brancos e de alto nível socioeconômico. Quando considerada apenas a obtenção no SUS dos medicamentos prescritos no próprio sistema, verificou-se uma baixa prevalência (30,4% de acesso), invertendo o acesso em benefício dos segmentos populacionais multiplamente marginalizados, como mulheres negras de baixo nível socioeconômico. CONCLUSÕES O acesso a medicamentos por meio do SUS demonstra ser um instrumento de combate às iniquidades interseccionais, evidenciando que o SUS é uma política pública eficiente na promoção da justiça social.

The Brazilian vaccine divide: How some municipalities were left behind in the Covid-19 vaccine coverage.

This study aims to assess the progress of geographic, socioeconomic, and demographic disparities in Covid-19 vaccination coverage in Brazil over the first two years of the vaccination campaign. Data from the National Immunization Program Information System were used to estimate covid-19 vaccine coverage. Brazilian municipalities were divided into two groups based on their vaccine coverage for the booster dose. The first group comprised 20% of municipalities with the lowest coverage, while the second group (80% of municipalities) had higher coverage. The analysis was conducted separately for four age groups: 5-11, 12-17, 18-59, and 60+. Explanatory variables included socioeconomic and health services indicators. Crude and adjusted logistic regression models were used to estimate the probability of a municipality being among those with the worst vaccination coverage according to the categories of exploratory variables. Between January/2021 and December/2022, Brazil administered 448.2 million doses of the covid-19 vaccine. The booster vaccination coverage varied from 24.8% among adolescents to 79.7% among the elderly. The difference between the group with the highest and lowest coverage increased during the national vaccination campaign. Municipalities with lower education levels, higher proportion of Black population, higher Gini index, and worse health service indicators had a greater likelihood of having lower vaccination coverage. High and increasing levels of inequality in Covid-19 vaccination were observed in Brazil across all age groups during the vaccination campaign in 2021-2022.

Trends in occurrences of accidents by venomous animals in brazil: analysis of notifications from 2007 to 2021 / Tendências na ocorrência de acidentes por animais peçonhentos no brasil: análise das notificações de 2007 a 2021 / Tendencias en las ocurrencias de accidentes por animales venenosos en Brasil: análisis de las notificaciones de 2007 a 2021

Os acidentes por animais peçonhentos sãoum problema de saúde pública que apresenta elevado número de casos anuais no Brasil. Objetivo:descrever e analisar as ocorrências de acidentes por animais peçonhentos no Brasil e suas tendências entre 2007 e 2021.Metodologia:oestudo utilizou dados doSistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação edo Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade.A população do estudo foi analisada segundo sexo, faixa etária e região de residência. A análise de tendência da série histórica foi realizada por regressão linear generalizada usando a estimação de Prais-Winsten.Resultados:as taxas de ocorrência padronizadas dobraram no período estudado (53,8/100.000 hab. em 2007 para 111,2/100.000 hab. em 2021). A região Nordeste apresentou a maior taxa de ocorrência padronizada (105,5/100.000 hab.). As regiões Nordeste, Sudeste e Centro-Oeste apresentaram maior taxa bruta de acidentes por escorpiões (75,8, 48,7 e 32,8 acidentes/100.000 hab., respectivamente), enquanto a região Norte por serpentes (54,2 acidentes/100.000 hab.) e a Região Sul por aranhas (60,3 acidentes/100.000 hab.). A taxa de mortalidade observada no período de 2007 a 2020 foi de 1,3 óbitos/1 milhão de hab. Entre as mortes registradas, 39,6% foram por picada de cobra.Conclusões:as tendências no Brasil foram ascendentes para ambos os sexos e para todas as faixas etárias. Apenas as regiões Norte e Sul apresentaram algumas categorias com tendências estacionárias. A análise dos dados epidemiológicos possibilita a identificação de populações-alvo e a elaboração de políticas públicas a fim de prevenir novos acidentes, bem como aprimorar o atendimento às pessoas acometidas por meio do planejamento da distribuição de soros antiofídicos (AU).

Accidents by venomous animals is a public health problem that presents a high number of annual cases in Brazil.Objective:to describe and analyze the occurrences of accidents by venomous animalsin Brazil and their trends between 2007 and 2021.Methodology:the study used Notifiable Diseases Information Systemand Mortality Information Systemdata. The study population wasanalyzed according to sex, age group, and region of residence. Trend analysis of the historical series was performed by generalized linear regression using Prais-Winsten estimation.Results:the standardized occurrence rates doubled during the studied period (53.8/100,000 inhab. in 2007 to 111.2/100,000 inhab. in 2021). The Northeast region had the highest standardized occurrence rate (105.5/100,000 inhab.). The Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest regions had a higher crude rate of accidents caused by scorpions (75.8, 48.7 and 32.8 accidents/100,000 inhab., respectively), while the North region by snakes (54.2 accidents/100,000 inhab.), and the South region by spiders (60.3 accidents/100,000 inhab.). Death rate observed in the period from 2007 to 2020 was 1.3deaths/1 million inhab. Among the deaths registered, 39.6% were from snakebite.Conclusions:trends in Brazil were ascendant for both sexes and for all age groups. Only the North and South regions showed some categories with stationary trends. The analysis of epidemiological data makes it possible the identification of target populations and elaborations of public policies in order to prevent new accidents, as well as the improvement of care for affected people by planning the distribution of antivenom serums (AU).

Los accidentes por animales venenosos son un problema de salud pública que presenta un elevado número de casos anuales en Brasil. Objetivo: describir y analizar lasocurrencias de accidentes por animales venenosos en Brasil y sus tendencias entre 2007 y 2021.Metodología: el estudio utilizó datos del sistema de información de enfermedades de declaración obligatoria(SINAN, según su sigla en portugués)ydelsistema de información de mortalidad. La población delestudio se analizó según sexo, grupo de edad y región de residencia. El análisis de tendencia de la serie histórica se realizó mediante regresión lineal generalizada utilizando la estimación de Prais-Winsten.Resultados: las tasas de ocurrencia estandarizadas se duplicaron durante el período estudiado (de 53,8/100000 hab. en 2007 a 111,2/100000 hab. en 2021). La región Nordeste presentó la mayor tasa de ocurrencia estandarizada (105,5/100000 hab.). Las regiones Nordeste, Sudeste y Medio Oeste presentaron la mayor tasa bruta de accidentes por alacranes (75,8, 48,7 y 32,8 accidentes/100000 hab., respectivamente), mientras que la región Norte por serpientes (54,2 accidentes/100000 hab.), y la Región Sur por arañas (60,3 accidentes/100000 hab.). La tasa de mortalidad observada en el período de 2007 a 2020 fue de 1,3 muertes/1 millón de hab. Entre las muertes registradas, el 39,6% fueron por mordedura de serpiente.Conclusiones: las tendencias en Brasil fueron ascendentes para ambos sexos y para todos los grupos de edad. Solo las regiones Norte y Sur presentaron algunas categorías con tendencias estacionarias. El análisis de datos epidemiológicos posibilita la identificación de poblaciones objetivo y la elaboración de políticas públicas para la prevención de nuevos accidentes, así como la mejora de la atención a las personas afectadas mediante la planificación de la distribución de sueros antiofídicos (AU).

Uncovering inequities in Covid-19 vaccine coverage for adults and elderly in Brazil: A multilevel study of 2021-2022 data.

Vaccination is crucial for reducing severe COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. However, vaccine access disparities within countries, particularly in low- and middle-income nations, may leave disadvantaged regions and populations behind. This study aimed to investigate potential inequalities in vaccine coverage among Brazilian aged 18 years and older based on demographic, geographic, and socioeconomic characteristics at the municipal level. A total of 389 million vaccination records from the National Immunization Program Information System were analyzed to calculate vaccine coverage rates for the first, second, and booster doses among adults (18-59 years) and elderly (60 + years) vaccinated between January 2021 and December 2022. We analyzed the data by gender and used a three-level (municipalities, states, regions) multilevel regression analysis to assess the association between vaccine coverage and municipal characteristics. Vaccination coverage was higher among the elderly than among adults, particularly for the second and booster doses. Adult women showed higher coverage rates than men (ranging from 118 % to 25 % higher along the analyzed period). Significant inequalities were observed when analyzing the evolution of vaccination coverage by sociodemographic characteristics of municipalities. In the early stages of the vaccination campaign, municipalities with higher per capita Gross Domestic Product (pGDP), educational level, and fewer Black residents reached higher population coverages earlier. In December 2022, adult and elderly booster vaccine coverage was 43 % and 19 %, respectively, higher in municipalities in the highest quintile of educational level. Higher vaccine uptake was also observed in municipalities with fewer Black residents and higher pGDP. Municipalities accounted for most of the variance in vaccine coverage (59.7 %-90.4 % depending on the dose and age group). This study emphasizes the inadequate booster coverage and the presence of socioeconomic and demographic disparities in COVID-19 vaccination rates. These issues must be addressed through equitable interventions to avoid potential disparities in morbidity and mortality.

Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Healthcare Workers: A Critical Sentinel Group for Monitoring the SARS-CoV-2 Variant Shift.

SARS-CoV-2 genome surveillance is important for monitoring risk groups and health workers as well as data on new cases and mortality rate due to COVID-19. We characterized the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 variants from May 2021 to April 2022 in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, and evaluated the similarity between variants present in the population and healthcare workers (HCW). A total of 5291 sequenced genomes demonstrated the circulation of 55 strains and four variants of concern (Alpha, Delta, Gamma and Omicron-sublineages BA.1 and BA.2). The number of cases was relatively low in May 2021, but the number of deaths was higher with the Gamma variant. There was a significant increase in both numbers between December 2021 and February 2022, peaking in mid-January 2022, when the Omicron variant dominated. After May 2021, two distinct variant groups (Delta and Omicron) were observed, equally distributed among the five Santa Catarina mesoregions. Moreover, from November 2021 to February 2022, similar variant profiles between HCW and the general population were observed, and a quicker shift from Delta to Omicron in HCW than in the general population. This demonstrates the importance of HCW as a sentinel group for monitoring disease trends in the general population.

Socioeconomic inequality in hospital case fatality rate and care among children and adolescents hospitalized for COVID-19 in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of hospital case fatality rate and care received by children and adolescents hospitalized for COVID-19 with the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of Brazilian municipalities and regions of residence. METHODS: Data were collected from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The dichotomous outcomes analyzed were hospital case fatality rate of COVID-19, biological samples collected for COVID-19 diagnosis, X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, use of ventilatory support, and intensive care unit hospitalization. The covariates were municipal GDP per capita and the Brazilian region of residence. Poisson regression was used for the outcomes recorded in 2020 and 2021 in Brazil, covering the two COVID-19 waves in the country, adjusted for age and gender. RESULTS: The hospital case fatality rate was 7.6%. In municipalities with lower GDP per capita deciles, the case fatality rate was almost four times higher among children and twice as high in adolescents compared to cities with higher deciles. Additionally, residents of municipalities with lower GDP per capita had fewer biological samples collected for diagnosis, X-ray examinations, and CT scans. We found regional disparities associated with case fatality rate, with worse indicators in the North and Northeast regions. The findings remained consistent over the two COVID-19 waves. CONCLUSION: Municipalities with lower GDP per capita, as well as the North and Northeast regions, had worse indicators of hospital case fatality rate and care.

Vacinação contra poliomielite no Brasil de 2011 a 2021: sucessos, reveses e desafios futuros / Vaccination against poliomyelitis in Brazil from 2011 to 2021: successes, setbacks, and challenges ahead

Resumo A queda de coberturas vacinais (CV) na infância, entre elas a da poliomielite, vem se tornando uma preocupação sanitária. O objetivo foi analisar a tendência temporal das coberturas das três doses da vacina contra a poliomielite nos primeiros 12 meses de vida entre 2011 e 2021, com destaque na pandemia de COVID-19, além de mapear as CV no Brasil. Foi realizado um estudo ecológico com técnicas de série temporal interrompida (STI) e análise espacial, a partir dos dados do Sistema de Informação do Programa Nacional de Imunização. A tendência da CV foi ajustada pelo estimador de variância de Newey-West, segundo as unidades federadas e o Índice de Privação Brasileiro. A distribuição da CV foi estimada por modelos bayesianos e os aglomerados espaciais pelos índices de Moran global e local, identificando áreas de menor cobertura nas Regiões de Saúde. Observa-se perda da CV ao longo do período em todas as regiões do país, sendo maiores no Norte e no Nordeste e se acentuando durante a pandemia. As maiores quedas foram identificadas em estados e regiões de saúde com maior vulnerabilidade social. A queda na CV mostra que o risco de reintrodução do vírus selvagem é iminente e os desafios precisam ser enfrentados com o fortalecimento do Sistema Único de Saúde.

Abstract The drop in childhood vaccination coverage (VC), including poliomyelitis, has become a health concern. The objective was to analyze the temporal trend of coverage of the three doses of the polio vaccine in the first 12 months of life between 2011 and 2021, in addition to mapping vaccination coverage in Brazil, including the COVID-19 pandemic period. An ecological study was carried out using interrupted time series (STI) techniques and spatial analysis, with data from the National Immunization Program Information System. The VC trend was adjusted by the Newey-West variance estimator according to the federated units and the Brazilian Deprivation Index. The VC distribution was estimated by Bayesian models and the spatial clusters by the global and local Moran index, identifying areas of lower coverage in the health regions. There was a reduction in the VC over the period in all regions, being more pronounced in the North and Northeast regions and during the Covid-19 pandemic. The biggest drops were identified in states and health regions with greater social vulnerability after 2019. The drop in VC shows that the risk of reintroduction of the wild virus is imminent and the challenges need to be faced with the strengthening of the Brazilian Health System (SUS).

Óbitos por condições de saúde posteriores à COVID-19 no Brasil / Deaths from post-COVID conditions in Brazil

Resumo O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a magnitude e o perfil dos óbitos por condições posteriores à COVID-19 no Brasil. Estudo descritivo com base nos dados preliminares de registro de óbitos do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade ocorridos em 2021. Foram considerados os registros com código CID B94.8 como causa básica e com código U09 em alguma linha da parte I ou II da declaração de óbito. Foi avaliada a distribuição dos óbitos por região geográfica, semestre de ocorrência, sexo, faixa etária, raça/cor, escolaridade e local de ocorrência. Foram registrados 2.948 óbitos por condições posteriores à COVID-19, variando de 0,5 óbito por 1.000 registros na região Nordeste a 3,6/1.000 na região Centro-Oeste. Mais da metade ocorreu entre o sexo masculino (58,0%), aqueles com 60 anos ou mais de idade (66,9%) e de cor da pele branca (51,8%). Os óbitos por condições posteriores à COVID-19 apresentaram características sociodemográficas distintas entre as regiões.

Abstract This paper aims to assess the magnitude and profile of deaths from post-COVID conditions in Brazil. Descriptive study based on preliminary data from the 2021 Mortality Information System. Records with ICD code B94.8 as the Basic Cause and with code U09 in some lines of part I or II of the declaration were considered for analysis. The distribution of deaths by geographic region, semester of occurrence, sex, age group, ethnicity/skin color, schooling, and place of occurrence was evaluated. We identified 2,948 deaths from conditions subsequent to COVID-19 were recorded, ranging from 0.5 deaths per 1,000 records in the Northeast Region to 3.6/1,000 in the Midwest Region. More than half occurred among males (58.0%), those aged 60 years or older (66.9%), and whites (51.8%). Conclusion: Deaths from post-COVID conditions had distinct sociodemographic characteristics between regions.

Vacinação do sarampo no Brasil: onde estivemos e para onde vamos? / Measles vaccination in Brazil: where have we been and where are we headed?

Resumo A reemergência de doenças imunopreveníveis devido à queda das coberturas vacinais (CV) tem sido documentada em vários países. O objetivo foi analisar a CV, a homogeneidade das CV e os casos de sarampo no Brasil de 2011 a 2021, com enfoque no período da pandemia de COVID-19, sua tendência temporal, distribuição espaço-temporal e fatores associados aos aglomerados de menor CV. Trata-se de um estudo ecológico sobre a CV de sarampo (dose 1), com métodos de série temporal interrompida e de avaliação da disposição espaço-temporal, por meio do teste de varredura na identificação de aglomerados de CV. A partir de 2015, observa-se queda progressiva das CV e da homogeneidade, acentuando-se após 2020 em todas as regiões, particularmente Norte e Nordeste. Aglomerados de baixa CV foram associados a piores indicadores de desenvolvimento humano, desigualdade social e menor acesso à Estratégia de Saúde da Família. No Brasil, a pandemia intensificou as iniquidades em saúde, com baixas CV de sarampo em municípios socialmente mais vulneráveis e desiguais. Há risco de circulação do vírus, reafirmando o desafio de fortalecer a atenção básica, aprimorar a comunicação em saúde e garantir acesso à vacina, diminuindo oportunidades perdidas de vacinação e a hesitação vacinal.

Abstract The re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases due to the decline in vaccine coverage (VC) has been documented in several countries. The objective was to analyze the VC, the homogeneity of VC, and measles cases in Brazil from 2011 to 2021, focusing on the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, its temporal trend, space-time distribution, and factors associated with clusters of lower VC. This is an ecological study on measles VC (dose 1), with methods of interrupted time series and evaluation of spatio-temporal disposition, through the sweep test to identify clusters of VC. Starting in 2015, we observe a progressive decline in VC and homogeneity, with an accentuation after 2020, in all regions, particularly in the North and Northeast. Low VC clusters were associated with worse human development indicators, social inequality, and less access to the Family Health Strategy. In Brazil, the pandemic intensified health inequalities with low VC of measles in socially more vulnerable and unequal municipalities. There is a risk of virus circulation, however, the challenge of strengthening primary care, improving health communication and guaranteeing access to the vaccine, reducing missed opportunities for vaccination and vaccine hesitancy, is highlighted.

Deaths from post-COVID conditions in Brazil. / Óbitos por condições de saúde posteriores à COVID-19 no Brasil.

This paper aims to assess the magnitude and profile of deaths from post-COVID conditions in Brazil. Descriptive study based on preliminary data from the 2021 Mortality Information System. Records with ICD code B94.8 as the Basic Cause and with code U09 in some lines of part I or II of the declaration were considered for analysis. The distribution of deaths by geographic region, semester of occurrence, sex, age group, ethnicity/skin color, schooling, and place of occurrence was evaluated. We identified 2,948 deaths from conditions subsequent to COVID-19 were recorded, ranging from 0.5 deaths per 1,000 records in the Northeast Region to 3.6/1,000 in the Midwest Region. More than half occurred among males (58.0%), those aged 60 years or older (66.9%), and whites (51.8%). Conclusion: Deaths from post-COVID conditions had distinct sociodemographic characteristics between regions.

O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar a magnitude e o perfil dos óbitos por condições posteriores à COVID-19 no Brasil. Estudo descritivo com base nos dados preliminares de registro de óbitos do Sistema de Informação sobre Mortalidade ocorridos em 2021. Foram considerados os registros com código CID B94.8 como causa básica e com código U09 em alguma linha da parte I ou II da declaração de óbito. Foi avaliada a distribuição dos óbitos por região geográfica, semestre de ocorrência, sexo, faixa etária, raça/cor, escolaridade e local de ocorrência. Foram registrados 2.948 óbitos por condições posteriores à COVID-19, variando de 0,5 óbito por 1.000 registros na região Nordeste a 3,6/1.000 na região Centro-Oeste. Mais da metade ocorreu entre o sexo masculino (58,0%), aqueles com 60 anos ou mais de idade (66,9%) e de cor da pele branca (51,8%). Os óbitos por condições posteriores à COVID-19 apresentaram características sociodemográficas distintas entre as regiões.

Vaccination against poliomyelitis in Brazil from 2011 to 2021: successes, setbacks, and challenges ahead. / Vacinação contra poliomielite no Brasil de 2011 a 2021: sucessos, reveses e desafios futuros.

The drop in childhood vaccination coverage (VC), including poliomyelitis, has become a health concern. The objective was to analyze the temporal trend of coverage of the three doses of the polio vaccine in the first 12 months of life between 2011 and 2021, in addition to mapping vaccination coverage in Brazil, including the COVID-19 pandemic period. An ecological study was carried out using interrupted time series (STI) techniques and spatial analysis, with data from the National Immunization Program Information System. The VC trend was adjusted by the Newey-West variance estimator according to the federated units and the Brazilian Deprivation Index. The VC distribution was estimated by Bayesian models and the spatial clusters by the global and local Moran index, identifying areas of lower coverage in the health regions. There was a reduction in the VC over the period in all regions, being more pronounced in the North and Northeast regions and during the Covid-19 pandemic. The biggest drops were identified in states and health regions with greater social vulnerability after 2019. The drop in VC shows that the risk of reintroduction of the wild virus is imminent and the challenges need to be faced with the strengthening of the Brazilian Health System (SUS).

A queda de coberturas vacinais (CV) na infância, entre elas a da poliomielite, vem se tornando uma preocupação sanitária. O objetivo foi analisar a tendência temporal das coberturas das três doses da vacina contra a poliomielite nos primeiros 12 meses de vida entre 2011 e 2021, com destaque na pandemia de COVID-19, além de mapear as CV no Brasil. Foi realizado um estudo ecológico com técnicas de série temporal interrompida (STI) e análise espacial, a partir dos dados do Sistema de Informação do Programa Nacional de Imunização. A tendência da CV foi ajustada pelo estimador de variância de Newey-West, segundo as unidades federadas e o Índice de Privação Brasileiro. A distribuição da CV foi estimada por modelos bayesianos e os aglomerados espaciais pelos índices de Moran global e local, identificando áreas de menor cobertura nas Regiões de Saúde. Observa-se perda da CV ao longo do período em todas as regiões do país, sendo maiores no Norte e no Nordeste e se acentuando durante a pandemia. As maiores quedas foram identificadas em estados e regiões de saúde com maior vulnerabilidade social. A queda na CV mostra que o risco de reintrodução do vírus selvagem é iminente e os desafios precisam ser enfrentados com o fortalecimento do Sistema Único de Saúde.

Measles vaccination in Brazil: where have we been and where are we headed? / Vacinação do sarampo no Brasil: onde estivemos e para onde vamos?

The re-emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases due to the decline in vaccine coverage (VC) has been documented in several countries. The objective was to analyze the VC, the homogeneity of VC, and measles cases in Brazil from 2011 to 2021, focusing on the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, its temporal trend, space-time distribution, and factors associated with clusters of lower VC. This is an ecological study on measles VC (dose 1), with methods of interrupted time series and evaluation of spatio-temporal disposition, through the sweep test to identify clusters of VC. Starting in 2015, we observe a progressive decline in VC and homogeneity, with an accentuation after 2020, in all regions, particularly in the North and Northeast. Low VC clusters were associated with worse human development indicators, social inequality, and less access to the Family Health Strategy. In Brazil, the pandemic intensified health inequalities with low VC of measles in socially more vulnerable and unequal municipalities. There is a risk of virus circulation, however, the challenge of strengthening primary care, improving health communication and guaranteeing access to the vaccine, reducing missed opportunities for vaccination and vaccine hesitancy, is highlighted.

A reemergência de doenças imunopreveníveis devido à queda das coberturas vacinais (CV) tem sido documentada em vários países. O objetivo foi analisar a CV, a homogeneidade das CV e os casos de sarampo no Brasil de 2011 a 2021, com enfoque no período da pandemia de COVID-19, sua tendência temporal, distribuição espaço-temporal e fatores associados aos aglomerados de menor CV. Trata-se de um estudo ecológico sobre a CV de sarampo (dose 1), com métodos de série temporal interrompida e de avaliação da disposição espaço-temporal, por meio do teste de varredura na identificação de aglomerados de CV. A partir de 2015, observa-se queda progressiva das CV e da homogeneidade, acentuando-se após 2020 em todas as regiões, particularmente Norte e Nordeste. Aglomerados de baixa CV foram associados a piores indicadores de desenvolvimento humano, desigualdade social e menor acesso à Estratégia de Saúde da Família. No Brasil, a pandemia intensificou as iniquidades em saúde, com baixas CV de sarampo em municípios socialmente mais vulneráveis e desiguais. Há risco de circulação do vírus, reafirmando o desafio de fortalecer a atenção básica, aprimorar a comunicação em saúde e garantir acesso à vacina, diminuindo oportunidades perdidas de vacinação e a hesitação vacinal.