Opportunities and challenges in vaccination implementation against COVID-19: A systematic review

Objective: To analyze the experiences regarding the implementation of COVID-19 vaccination strategies, emphasizing the opportunities and challenges identified during its implementation. Design: A systematic review of the literature published between 2020 and 2022. Data sources: The study was conducted across four databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scielo, and Lilacs. Selection of studies: Publications selection followed the PRISMA methodology (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis). Data extraction: A database was created where key elements of the selected study were identified and recorded, such as results, discussion, and conclusions. In addition, analysis categories were created such as: stages of the implementation plan, challenges identified and opportunity areas. Results and conclusions: 292 publications were found, of which 25 were selected for analysis. Of these, 64% came from high-income countries and 32% from upper-middle-income countries. According to the stages of the implementation plan, 20% of the studies focused on regulations, planning and coordination; 28% in prioritization of the population to be vaccinated; 16% in acceptance, demand, and risk communication; and 16% in administration and information systems. Reflection on the response to the pandemic invites us to consider various aspects, such as the organization and function of health systems, the importance of collaborative work, efforts to achieve equity, communication strategies, as well as ethical dilemmas when seeking preserve health. (c) 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Espa & ntilde;a, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).