Reflection of the Importance of Public Health System to Promote Pro-vaccination Behavior Regarding COVID-19 in Brazil

Biomedical Sciences | Letter to Editor | https://doi.org/10.47262/SL/10.1.132021027

Reflection of the Importance of Public Health Systems to Promote Pro-vaccination Behavior Regarding COVID-19 in Brazil

Francisco Antonio Coelho Junior 1*, Pedro Marques-Quinteiro 2, 3, Cristiane Faiad 4, Mariana Borges Nunes Vieira 1, Ana Paula Pereira Coelho 5, Ana Júlia Gomes de Barros 5

1 Department of Administration; Post-graduate Program in Administration; Research Center in Assessment and Social Technologies, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil

2 William James Center for Research, ISPA-Instituto Universitário, Lisboa, Portugal

3 Transdisciplinary Research Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (TRIE), Universidade Lusófona, Lisboa, Portugal

4 Department of Clinical Psychology; Post-graduate Program in Organizational, Work and Social Psychology; Research Center in Assessment and Social Technologies, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil

5 Department of Public Policy Management, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil

Abstract

In Brazil, and worldwide, we are reaching a critical moment in the COVID-19 pandemic. As the number of virus mutations grows, a paradoxical stabilization in the number of vaccinated individuals is concerned. In this letter, our goal is to raise awareness about the fundamental role we believe public health systems have in promoting communication policies that inform, reassure, and encourage vaccination without compromising individuals' freedom. We do so by providing key demographics on vaccination rates in Brazil, contrasting current infection rates. Furthermore, we also raise a series of research questions that we believe should be timely addressed by the scientific community to generate empirical evidence that will support effective policy and public administration.