Influence of influenza vaccination campaigns on pneumonia mortality rates in the elderly in Brazil: cross-sectional study from 2014 to 2024

Abstract

Influenza is one of the main infectious diseases in the world, characterized by high incidence and mortality rates, especially among the elderly and individuals with chronic conditions. When infected, these patients may evolve to pneumonia and death. Because of this, most of the two countries recommend annual vaccination against influenza as a measure to mitigate the burden of women in this age group. With this in mind, the present study aims to analyze the impact of vaccination campaigns against the influenza virus on pneumonia mortality rates in the elderly in Brazil in the last 10 years. A query was made in the database of the Informatics Department of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), during the period from 2012 to 2024. The target population was elderly people aged 60 to 69 years. Forms extracted from data referring to mortality rates due to pneumonia, annual vaccination coverage against influenza and regional distribution of cases. The importance of vaccination has been reconfirmed to reduce serious hospitalizations and internments in children. In addition, the study points out the increase in investment in influenza immunoprevention campaigns compared to the annual GDP and its relationship with the increase in the number of deaths from preventable causes, including pneumonia. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was observed: there has been a 14% increase in the number of deaths from causes prevented by vaccination, putting a check on previous years of government investments in public health. Thus, it must be respected the positive effect of the immunoprevention campaigns for the maintenance of good health and, more importantly, understand the need for constancy of these investments for the consolidation of Brazilian public health.