BRAZILIAN GOVERNANCE TO COMBAT COVID-19: ANALYSIS OF THE MEASURES IMPLEMENTED BETWEEN 2020 AND 2024

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic, which began in 2020, revealed critical vulnerabilities in health systems and socioeconomic structures around the world, especially Brazil. This article analyzes the main federal public policies adopted in Brazil between 2020 and 2024, addressing five key areas: the National Immunization Plan (PNI) for Covid-19, the expansion of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and medical equipment, the development of telemedicine, the control of prices of medicines and supplies, and the updates to the 2023 and 2024 vaccination guidelines. Based on a qualitative methodology and documentary analysis, this study examines the effectiveness of these policies and the challenges faced, showing that, although they contributed to mitigating the effects of the pandemic, they also exposed structural and regional inequalities in the Brazilian health system. The article highlights the importance of mass vaccination, strengthening hospital care, and integrated health governance, promoting reflections on a more resilient future for public health in Brazil.