OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relationship between vaccination coverage indicators and the structure of primary care for immunization in Brazilian municipalities.

METHODS

This was a time series ecological study using data from the National Immunization Program Information System (SI-PNI) and the National Program for Improving Primary Care Access and Quality (PMAQ) over three evaluation cycles. A total of 13 variables were assessed, five of which related to the structure of basic health units (BHU) and eight to the availability of immunobiologicals. Analyses of comparisons, associations, and longitudinal models were carried out to assess the influence of these indicators on vaccination coverage levels.

RESULTS

The variables and indicators related to the structure of BHUs, the availability of immunobiologicals in Brazilian municipalities and vaccination coverage showed significant variations over the cycles. BHU structures ranged from fair to good, with lower percentages in Cycle 1 and increases in Cycles 2 and 3 for most of the variables analyzed. The availability of immunobiologicals also improved over the cycles, despite a few exceptions. Indicators of adequate vaccination coverage increased from Cycle 1 to Cycle 2 but decreased in Cycle 3. Improvements in the structure of the BHU and the availability of immunobiologicals were associated with higher adequate vaccination coverage. Keeping the availability of immunobiologicals fixed at good, the chance of having adequate coverage is 86.28% higher for a good structure compared to a poor one.

CONCLUSIONS

Changes in the structure of municipal BHUs and in the availability of immunobiologicals over the cycles evaluated were identified and were associated with higher vaccination coverage when they occurred simultaneously (good availability of immunobiologicals and regular or good structure in BHUs). This highlights the importance of the quality of primary care in achieving vaccination coverage targets in Brazilian municipalities.