0006/2023 - Vigilância e elevada cobertura vacinal: como Portugal superou o colapso e retomou o controle da pandemia Surveillance and high vaccination coverage: how did Portugal overcome the collapse and regained control of the pandemic
As incertezas sobre a COVID-19 requerem avaliação das respostas nacionais visando identificar sucessos e fracassos no seu controle. Este artigo analisou a resposta portuguesa, particularmente a contribuição dos seus sistemas de saúde e de vigilância no enfrentamento à pandemia. Foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura incluídas consultas a observatórios, documentos e sites institucionais. A resposta portuguesa foi ágil e revelou uma coordenação técnica e política unificada. Contou com estrutura de vigilância com uso de telemedicina. A reabertura foi amparada na alta testagem, baixa positividade e regras rígidas. Contudo, o relaxamento das medidas a partir de novembro/2020 resultou em aumento de casos com colapso do sistema de saúde. A resposta a esta situação envolveu estratégia de vigilância consistente, com instrumentos de monitoramento inovadores, que, aliados à alta adesão da população à vacinação levaram à superação daquele momento e mantiveram baixos índices de hospitalizações e óbitos em novas ondas. Nesse sentido, o caso português evidenciou os riscos de recrudescimento com a flexibilização, a exaustão da população às medidas restritivas e novas variantes, mas também a importância da articulação entre a coordenação técnica, a esfera política e o comitê científico.
Palavras-chave:
Sistemas de Saúde, Vigilância em Saúde, Portugal, COVID-19.
Abstract:
The uncertainties about COVID-19 require evaluation of national responses in order to identify successes and failures in its control. This article analyzes the Portuguese response, particularly the contribution of its health and surveillance systems in dealing with the pandemic. An integrative literature review was carried out, including consultations with observatories, documents, and institutional websites. The Portuguese response was agile and revealed unified technical and political coordination. It had a surveillance structure using telemedicine. The reopening was supported by high testing, low positivity, and strict rules. However, the measures relaxation as of November/2020 resulted in an increase in cases with collapse of the health system. The response to this situation involved a consistent surveillance strategy, with innovative monitoring instruments, which combined with the high adherence of the population to vaccination led to overcoming that moment and maintained low rates of hospitalizations and deaths in new waves. In this sense, the Portuguese case reveals the risks of a resurgence with flexibility, and the population´s exhaustion of restrictive measures and new variants, but also the importance of technical coordination, the political sphere, and the scientific committee articulation.
Keywords:
Health Systems, Health Surveillance, Portugal, COVID-19.
Surveillance and high vaccination coverage: how did Portugal overcome the collapse and regained control of the pandemic
Resumo (abstract):
The uncertainties about COVID-19 require evaluation of national responses in order to identify successes and failures in its control. This article analyzes the Portuguese response, particularly the contribution of its health and surveillance systems in dealing with the pandemic. An integrative literature review was carried out, including consultations with observatories, documents, and institutional websites. The Portuguese response was agile and revealed unified technical and political coordination. It had a surveillance structure using telemedicine. The reopening was supported by high testing, low positivity, and strict rules. However, the measures relaxation as of November/2020 resulted in an increase in cases with collapse of the health system. The response to this situation involved a consistent surveillance strategy, with innovative monitoring instruments, which combined with the high adherence of the population to vaccination led to overcoming that moment and maintained low rates of hospitalizations and deaths in new waves. In this sense, the Portuguese case reveals the risks of a resurgence with flexibility, and the population´s exhaustion of restrictive measures and new variants, but also the importance of technical coordination, the political sphere, and the scientific committee articulation.
Palavras-chave (keywords):
Health Systems, Health Surveillance, Portugal, COVID-19.
Barros, Sandra Garrido de, Cruz, D.N., Souza, J.C, Silva, L.A, Guimarães, M.C.S, Rezende, M.M, Paim, J., Vieira-da-Silva, L.M. Vigilância e elevada cobertura vacinal: como Portugal superou o colapso e retomou o controle da pandemia. Cien Saude Colet [periódico na internet] (2023/Jan). [Citado em 06/07/2024].
Está disponível em: http://cienciaesaudecoletiva.com.br/artigos/vigilancia-e-elevada-cobertura-vacinal-como-portugal-superou-o-colapso-e-retomou-o-controle-da-pandemia/18632
