[Vaccination coverage and delay in 2019 and 2020 birth cohorts: household survey in Cubatão, São Paulo State, Brazil].

Abstract

The Brazilian Immunization Program has recently struggled to meet the recommended vaccination coverage rates for childhood vaccines included in the national schedule. In Cubatão, a municipality in the state of São Paulo, official data from the Information System of the Brazilian Immunization Program indicate a sharp decline in children's vaccination coverage. The study aimed to estimate the actual vaccination coverage in children under 2 years old, assess whether doses are administered on time, and identify factors associated with vaccination delays using a household survey with Cubatão residents born in 2019 and 2020. The municipality was divided into five socioeconomic strata, and the sample included 450 children. Vaccination coverage at 12 months was 86.9%, and 82.6% at 24 months. Only 25.7% of children received the full vaccination schedule without delays. Factors associated with the delay in vaccination at 24 months included the mother's educational level and receiving Bolsa Família benefits. Although vaccination coverage is higher than that in national surveys, delayed vaccination is a public health issue in Cubatão, requiring better education of healthcare professionals and the population on the importance of timely vaccination.