Immunoepidemiology and critical epidemiology

Abstract

The present work arises as an academic exercise of the educational experience "Critical Epidemiology" of the postgraduate Master's Degree in Public Health of the Universidad Veracruzana, it is intended to carry out a critical analysis of the thesis work carried out during the stay in it.

Vaccination is one of the most effective preventive strategies in public health. Vaccinating involves preventing diseases and infections through the activation of the adaptive immune system, after the generation of neutralizing antibodies and specialized cells. Seen from the community point of view, a protective immunity known as population immunity is generated, which reduces the chances of contagion. Evaluating the vaccination campaign against SARS-CoV-2 is essential, it is evident that it is impossible to ignore the data generated by classical epidemiology as indicators of incidence or relative risk; However, incorporating evaluation strategies such as immunoepidemiology, which in the same way generate direct knowledge about the effectiveness of the vaccine, would contribute even more to the simplistic views prevailing in epidemiology. However, this type of approach is still insufficient, it is necessary to evaluate the vaccination campaign from the critical perspective of epidemiology, question the decisions made and be aware that there is time to carry out seroprevalence studies of antibodies against the virus taking into account account the social determinants of the health of the Mexican population, seeking self-determination without waiting for the results that the countries of the global north could generate.