THE ROLE OF NURSING IN VACCINATION COVERAGE RESULTS IN BRAZIL

Abstract

Vaccination is a fundamental strategy for the prevention of vaccine-preventable diseases and the promotion of public health. In Brazil, the National Immunization Program (PNI), created in 1973, ensures universal and free access to vaccines through the Unified Health System (SUS). In this context, the role of the nursing team is essential, both in the administration of vaccines and in monitoring vaccination schedules and guiding the population, contributing decisively to the strengthening of public immunization policies. This study aims to analyze the influence of nursing practice on vaccination coverage results in Brazil. This is a literature review, conducted using secondary sources available in the Virtual Health Library (VHL) and databases such as MEDLINE/PUBMED, LILACS, and BDENF. The descriptors "nursing," "vaccination coverage," and "immunization" were used, connected by the Boolean operator AND. Studies in Portuguese, English, and Spanish that addressed the role of nursing in vaccination actions were included, without temporal limitations. The main nursing actions to improve vaccination coverage include: health education aimed at raising public awareness, combating misinformation and anti-vaccine movements, continuous staff training, efficient organization of vaccination services, implementation of innovative strategies such as the use of technologies and vaccination reminders, as well as carrying out outreach actions such as home vaccination and expanded campaigns.