Decline in routine vaccination coverage in children during the Covid-19 pandemic from the perspective of Primary Health Care nurses

Abstract

The study aimed to understand, from the perspective of nurses working in Primary Health Care, the main causes of the decline in routine vaccination coverage in children during the pandemic. This was a descriptive-qualitative study. Data was collected in Miraíma, including seven nurses working in the five Family Health Units, from July to November 2021, and the other categories were excluded. Once the decline in vaccination coverage in the municipality had been identified through records from the Miraíma Municipal Health Department, a semi-structured questionnaire was prepared and applied via Google Forms®. The nurses' answers were grouped into the SWOT/FOFA matrix, which made strategic situational planning possible, thus enabling a literature search in line with their perception. Systematic reviews and clinical trials were checked in the Cochrane Library, Scielo, CINAHL and PubMed. The Mendeley reference manager was used. Misinformation and inequalities in Brazil contribute to vaccine hesitancy, aggravated by the pandemic. This generates ignorance and influences attitudes towards vaccines. It is clear that the topics covered allow care to be directed towards the specific needs of each child, promoting innovative and scientifically-based work, as well as ensuring greater autonomy for nurses. Further studies are needed to better understand the dynamics involved, given the complexity of the issue, and thus identify effective solutions and strengthen public policies.