Vaccination coverage in Costa Rica during 2024 shows significant progress, but still falls short of the ideal 95% goal in most cases, according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Health. Only two vaccines have exceeded this critical threshold, while the remaining 20 vaccines are lagging behind in varying degrees.

Vaccination Coverage Breakdown

• 2 vaccines with more than 95%
• 9 vaccines between 90% and 95%
• 10 vaccines between 80% and 89%
• 1 vaccine with 54%

Health authorities express particular concern over the vaccination rates in schools, emphasizing the need to strengthen strategies to complete immunization schemes. The application of the dose against tetanus and diphtheria, for instance, did not reach 80% coverage, suggesting a critical gap in vaccination coverage. This highlights the need to strengthen strategies to complete immunization schemes, the Ministry of Health stated. They also insist on improving communication between institutions such as the Ministry of Health, the CCSS, and the MEP to increase protection in this vulnerable population.

Data May Vary

The final data could show an improvement in coverage, as the Ministry of Health predicts. They note: It is expected that the adjustment of the figures, once the births of 2024 by the INEC have been confirmed, some vaccines that are below 90% may exceed that threshold. Nevertheless, the majority of vaccines still might not achieve the 95% necessary to guarantee adequate control of preventable vaccination diseases.

Looking at the Contraindications

• Td: The Td vaccine, which protects against tetanus and diphtheria, has a coverage rate of 54%. This vaccine is administered at 10 years and then every ten years thereafter. Tetanus causes muscle rigidity, difficulty swallowing and breathing, and can be fatal. Diphtheria can cause breathing difficulties, heart failure, paralysis, and in severe cases, death.
• BCG: The BCG vaccine, which is used to prevent tuberculosis, particularly in its severe forms, has an application rate of 87%. In individuals under 5 years of age, especially the very young, tuberculosis can be dangerous.
• RV1 (rotavirus): This vaccine, with an application rate of 88%, protects against the most common strains of rotavirus, significantly reducing the risk of severe infection, hospitalizations, and disease-related complications.
• SRP2: The second dose of this vaccine, which records an application of 87%, protects against measles, rubella, and mumps, highly contagious diseases. The first dose is applied at 15 months, and the second at 4 years. Within the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), these schemes can be accelerated. “There is something called shortened schemes, which according to age and vaccines that do not have, can be placed in a shorter time for the person to have that protection. It is used in cases of children who come from abroad or who have no vaccine, ”explained the ministry.

Declining Vaccination Rates and the COVID Effect

“Costa Rica had been characterized by having very high vaccination indices in the mandatory schemes of children. But from the mass vaccination against COVID, we have seen an important decrease.“ Said Roberto Arroba, of the Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health. he further noted, For experts, the situation is worrying because they are vaccines that have been applied for a long time in the country, and with them, there are diseases eradicated such as polio and measles. The author warns, further adding, We have diseases that are very contagious, for example, the cough that perhaps in an adult is a normal flu, but in a baby, it can have even lethal consequences.”

The vast majority of national vaccination campaigns target children under 1, and a few are aimed at 4-year-olds. “The more children are vaccinated, the greater the protection for those who, for various reasons, do not get the vaccine,“ said Arroba. This concept aligns with the herd immunity principle, where a significant portion of a community (often 70-90%) becomes immune to an infectious disease, making the spread from person to person unlikely, even among those who are not vaccinated. This is crucial in preventing the spread of diseases within the community. But if the whole system doesn’t catch up fast, it can derail it whenever the conditions favor the breaking blind spot.

In the United States, a similar decline in vaccination rates has raised concerns. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccination rates for children have decreased across the country. For example, the percentage of children aged 19-35 months receiving the recommended doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine declined from 92.3% in 2019 to 89.6% in 2023. This decline can be attributed to the disruption of routine healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to missed vaccinations and delayed immunization schedules.

The research underscores the importance of addressing this decline to ensure that vaccine-preventable diseases remain controlled and to protect the most vulnerable populations, including young children and immunocompromised individuals. For instance, measles cases dramatically increased in the United States in 2019, with 1,282 individual cases reported to the CDC. This outbreak highlighted the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to prevent the resurgence of diseases that had been nearly eradicated in the United States, much like polio and rubella.

In the Los Angeles health department have been using their department’s pregnant women clinics, neighboring churches, distribution of flyers and running hybrid clinics adventures, cross-questions and active confirmations from these institutions before offering the vaccinations ensuring the best participation unlike other countries.

Q: What is the current vaccination coverage in Costa Rica?

The preliminary data from 2024 indicates significant progress in vaccination coverage in Costa Rica, though it falls short of the ideal 95% target. Out of 21 vaccines, only two surpassed this threshold while the others are below it.

Q: How is the vaccination coverage distributed among different vaccines?

• 2 vaccines with coverage exceeding 95%
• 9 vaccines have coverage between 90% and 95%
• 10 vaccines fall within 80% to 89%
• 1 vaccine has a coverage of 54%

Concerns are particularly high regarding the low coverage of vaccines like Td for tetanus and diphtheria, which is at 54%, highlighting the critical need to strengthen immunization strategies.

Q: Why is improving communication between health institutions crucial?

Enhanced communication between institutions like the Ministry of Health, CCSS, and MEP is crucial to bolster vaccination coverage, especially in vulnerable populations such as school-aged children.

Q: How might data adjustments affect vaccination coverage figures?

The Ministry of Health anticipates an enhancement in vaccination coverage figures when 2024 birth data is fully integrated. It is possible that some currently sub-90% vaccines will exceed that threshold. However, most vaccines might still fall short of the 95% mark.

Q: What are the key concerns regarding specific vaccines like Td, BCG, RV1, and SRP2?

• Td (Tetanus & Diphtheria): Coverage stands at 54%. Tetanus can cause muscle rigidity and breathing difficulties, while diphtheria can lead to heart failure and paralysis.
• BCG (Tuberculosis): Has an 87% application rate. Particularly crucial for children under 5, as tuberculosis can be severe.
• RV1 (Rotavirus): An 88% coverage rate helps prevent severe infections and hospitalizations.
• SRP2 (Measles, Rubella, Mumps): Coverage is at 87%, with a possibility of accelerated schemes for unvaccinated children.

Q: What impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had on vaccination rates?

The pandemic led to a significant decrease in vaccination rates, especially in children beyond the COVID-focused vaccination campaigns. Known for high childhood vaccination rates, Costa Rica now faces increased risks of diseases like polio and measles which were previously controlled.

Q: What are the global examples demonstrating the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates?

In the United States, there has been a decline in vaccination rates for DTP, falling from 92.3% in 2019 to 89.6% in 2023, mainly due to healthcare disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic. This decline mirrors the importance of sustaining high vaccination rates to prevent the resurgence of nearly eradicated diseases like measles.

Q: What strategies can definately help improve vaccination rates and prevent outbreaks?

Initiatives such as the Los Angeles Health Department’s integration of vaccination campaigns within pregnant women clinics, community churches, and hybrid clinics can help better engage communities and improve participation rates in vaccination programs.