2021, Number 3
Barriers to immunization in the Dominican Republic and COVID-19
Language: Spanish
References: 17
Page: 96-104
PDF size: 311.76 Kb.
ABSTRACT
In recent years, the Dominican Republic has experienced a significant reduction in vaccination coverage; cases of tetanus and diphtheria that have recently emerged are a result of this situation. In order to identify barriers to immunization and determine the impact of COVID-19 on vaccination adherence, 2,584 Dominicans completed an online survey on personal vaccination history and reasons for not getting vaccinated. In addition, they answered questions about the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and the influence of the pandemic on their perception/adherence to vaccination. Most of those surveyed were not vaccinated during the pandemic, the main reason being: "I had no vaccination scheduled for this year." This indicates that even though the pandemic made it difficult to access vaccination services, this was not the main barrier to immunization in the Dominican Republic in 2020. Despite the fact that most of the participants are in favor of vaccination, of the vaccines included in our study, the only one that reached the goal of the Global Vaccine Action Plan of achieving 90% vaccination coverage by 2020 was measles, mumps and rubella in children. The main barrier to immunization is forgetting to get vaccinated. It is necessary to adopt an effective reminder system to increase adherence and improve immunization rates.REFERENCES
Ministerio de Hacienda República Dominicana. Presupuesto plurianual orientado a resultados aplicado al programa ampliado de inmunizaciones (PAI). Santo Domingo: Ministerio de Hacienda República Dominicana; 2018. https://www.digepres.gob.do/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Presupuesto%20plurianual%20orientado%20a%20resultados%20aplicado%20al%20Programa%20Ampliado%20de%20Inmunizaciones%20(PAI)%202018.pdf. (Consultado en línea: 26 de enero de 2021).
World Health Organization. [homepage on the Internet]. WHO vaccine-preventable diseases: monitoring system. 2020 global summary. Coverage time series for Dominican Republic (DOM). Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. Disponible en: https://apps.who.int/immunization_monitoring/globalsummary/coverages?c=DOM (Actualizado 12 octubre 2020; Consultado en línea: 17 de mayo de 2021).
Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS). [homepage on the Internet]. Actualización Epidemiológica difteria en la isla La Española 23 de abril de 2021. Washington DC: OPS. Disponible en: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/download_23.pdf. (Consultado en línea: 13 de mayo de 2021).
Molina T. República Dominicana no cumple meta de cobertura de vacunas contra difteria. Diario Libre. 2021 Abr 9. Disponible en: https://www.diariolibre.com/actualidad/salud/republica-dominicana-no-cumple-meta-de-cobertura-de-vacunas-contra-difteria-MA25528444. (Consultado en línea: 17 de mayo de 2021).
Castillo L. Salud Publica realizó cerco epidemiológico por difteria en Capotillo; harán campaña por televisión para incentivar vacunación. Listín Diario. 2020 Nov 5. Disponible en: https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2020/11/05/642768/salud-publica-realizo-cerco-epidemiologico-por-difteria-en-capotillo-haran-campana-por-television-para-incentivar-vacunacion. (Consultado en línea: 8 de febrero de 2021).
Ministerio de Salud Pública República Dominicana. [homepage on the Internet]. Plan Nacional de Vacunación de la República Dominicana, Acumulados al 13 de mayo de 2021. Santo Domingo: Ministerio de Salud Pública; 2021. Disponible en: https://vacunate.gob.do/. (Consultado en línea: 17 de mayo de 2021).