Abstract
Objectives: This paper presents an overview of the vaccination campaigns in France, Israel, Italy and Spain during the first eleven months from the first COVID-19 vaccine approval (Dec 2020 - Nov 2021). These four countries were chosen as they share similar socioeconomic, and epidemiological profiles and adopted similar vaccination strategies.
Methods: A rapid review of available primary data from each country was conducted. Data were collected from official government documents whenever possible, supplemented by information from international databases and local reports. The data were analysed via descriptive and graphical analysis to identify common patterns as well as significant divergences in the structural changes of countries’ healthcare systems during the pandemic, outcomes of the vaccination roll-out, and their impact on contextual policies.
Results: The four countries adopted similar interventions to protect and strengthen their healthcare systems. The effective coordination between the governance levels, ability to ensure a large supply of doses, and trust towards health authorities were among the determinants for more successful vaccination outcomes. The analysis reports a positive impact of the COVID-19 vaccines on epidemiological, political and economic outcomes. We observed some evidence of a negative association between increased vaccine coverage and fatalities and hospitalisation trends.
Conclusions: The strengths and weaknesses of COVID-19 pandemic crisis management along with the various strategies surrounding the vaccination roll-out campaigns may yield lessons for policymakers amid such decisions, including for future pandemics.
Methods: A rapid review of available primary data from each country was conducted. Data were collected from official government documents whenever possible, supplemented by information from international databases and local reports. The data were analysed via descriptive and graphical analysis to identify common patterns as well as significant divergences in the structural changes of countries’ healthcare systems during the pandemic, outcomes of the vaccination roll-out, and their impact on contextual policies.
Results: The four countries adopted similar interventions to protect and strengthen their healthcare systems. The effective coordination between the governance levels, ability to ensure a large supply of doses, and trust towards health authorities were among the determinants for more successful vaccination outcomes. The analysis reports a positive impact of the COVID-19 vaccines on epidemiological, political and economic outcomes. We observed some evidence of a negative association between increased vaccine coverage and fatalities and hospitalisation trends.
Conclusions: The strengths and weaknesses of COVID-19 pandemic crisis management along with the various strategies surrounding the vaccination roll-out campaigns may yield lessons for policymakers amid such decisions, including for future pandemics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 100594 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Health Policy and Technology |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 24 Dec 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jun 2022 |
Keywords
- COVID-19
- Health financing
- Health outcomes
- Health policy
- Pandemic
- Vaccines
- Health Financing
- Health Policy
