Objective
Analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on influenza vaccination coverage in some countries in the Americas.
Methods
This descriptive ecological study included Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay and analyzed information on influenza vaccination coverage in the countries during 2018–2023. The study reports annual estimates of influenza vaccination coverage expressed as a percentage of the population. The sources used were those reported by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization and the ministries of health of the countries studied.
Results
Comparatively, vaccination coverage rates according to risk groups among Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay show a downward trend without reaching optimal vaccination coverage for 2018 to 2023. Increased vaccination rates were reported in 2020 for all age and risk groups, except in Uruguay for children under 5 years of age. Among pregnant women, Argentina reported higher coverage in 2020 with 77%, Chile 90% (2018), and Uruguay 55% (2020). Among health workers, all three countries reached their highest coverage in 2020 (100%) but reported a decrease for 2022.
Conclusion
The studied countries have observed a decrease in post-COVID-19 influenza vaccination coverage. Therefore, they are working to achieve optimal coverage, not only in influenza risk groups but across the entire population. Data on influenza vaccination coverage are limited in some cases. The availability of new vaccines can provide greater immunogenicity, efficacy, and effectiveness. However, they represent a challenge for the Expanded Program on Immunization, which requires cost-effectiveness studies to evaluate new vaccines while experiencing restricted national budgets.