Objective:

To analyze the validity of the official vaccination figures according to the available information and to identify opportunities for improvement.

Materials and methods:

We estimated vaccination coverage and dropout rates (for multi-dose vaccines) for one-year-old children, based on public information from the dynamic cubes of the Ministry of Health, for the years 2015 to 2017.

Results:

We observed variations in the vaccination monthly reports, which indicate low rates of vaccination, as well as high dropout rates when comparing first and third doses applied. For children 1 year of age, the national complete coverage was estimated at 48.9%.

Conclusion:

There is no reliable information to estimate the actual vaccination coverage. Government documents report a constant overestimation of vaccination coverage that creates a “false sense of security”. This has become a barrier for the critical analysis of the Universal Vaccination Program.

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