Since the slavery period in Brazil, the Quilombola population has faced problems related to social vulnerability and poor health. The coronavirus disease (COVID)‐19 pandemic has made this social inequality more evident, and the postpandemic scenario has proved even more challenging with the difficult access to basic living conditions, including low vaccination coverage. In view of this, this study aims to present the epidemiological profile of vaccination against COVID‐19 in the population living in quilombos in Brazil. An observational study was carried out using information from the National Health Data Network provided by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Vaccination coverage was correlated with the human development index (HDI) and health quality indicators. In the Quilombola population, a total of 1 848 494 doses of vaccines were administered, mostly related to the first dose (45.43%) and the second or single‐dose vaccine vials (42.17%), representing a vaccination coverage of 48.43% and 49.41%, respectively; in addition, a total of 159.26 doses were administered per 100 inhabitants. There was an imbalance in the vaccination coverage rate and the number of doses administered in relation to the macroregions of Brazil and the Federative Units. In terms of doses administered by age group, the highest concentration was observed among individuals aged 20–59, with over 100 000 doses administered within each group. In the Spearman correlation, the following coefficients were significant: (a) first dose with municipal health spending [CC = −0.57]; (b) second dose or single‐dose vaccine vial with HDI [CC = 0.58], HDI–income [CC = 0.58], HDI–education [CC = 0.65], and municipal health spending [CC = −0.61]; and (c) the total number of doses with HDI [CC = 0.58], HDI–income [CC = 0.56], HDI–education [CC = 0.67], and municipal health spending [CC = −0.55]. The epidemiological profile of vaccination against COVID‐19 in the Quilombola population in Brazil was associated with a wide variability in relation to macroregions and Federative Units, with few Federative Units vaccinating more than 50% of Quilombola individuals. Among the markers evaluated, the best HDI and the best quality of health services were associated with better vaccination coverage for the first dose, second dose, single‐dose vaccine vial, and total number of doses administered in the Quilombola population, demonstrating that there is a relation between social and economic characteristics and the management of vaccines with a potential influence on the outcomes associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Summary The intensification of mining activities in the Brazilian Amazon has generated profound socio-environmental impacts, particularly on Indigenous populations. This study assessed the levels of contamination by toxic and potentially toxic elements in 720 individuals from the Xikrin do Cateté Tribe, located in the State of Pará, Brazil, a region heavily affected by copper (Cu), gold (Au), and nickel (Ni) mining. The data are part of the public documentation associated with Civil Public Action n° 1,001,462 − 67.2025.4.01.3901. The results showed that 98.5% of the participants had excessive concentrations of at least one toxic or potentially toxic element in their bodies, and 99.7% had at least one chemical element above the recommended limit. The prevalence of excessive chemical elements in the population revealed that manganese (Mn) was the most frequent, detected in 97.0% of individuals, followed by Ni (40.0%), iron (Fe, 32.5%), and cobalt (Co, 19.0%), the latter being a typical geochemical marker of Ni mining. Highly toxic metals with no known physiological function were also detected, including aluminum (Al), barium (Ba), beryllium (Be), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), titanium (Ti), and Arsenic (As), a semimetal, with prevalence reaching up to 37.0% of the population. All 121 children analyzed showed contamination by multiple toxic and potentially toxic elements, including a one-year-old child with significant exposure to six different metals. In total, 59.1% of the sample exhibited five or more chemical elements at excessive levels. These findings highlight ongoing environmental contamination, potentially associated with regional mining activities. Limited mitigation and remediation efforts may pose risks to the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. Graphical Abstract Mining activities in the Brazilian Amazon have resulted in chronic environmental contamination affecting Indigenous peoples. This study analyzed 720 individuals from the Xikrin do Cateté Tribe, located in the State of Pará, Brazil revealing that 98.5% had elevated levels of at least one toxic or potentially toxic element (PTE), with 59.1% exhibiting five or more. The most prevalent PTEs included, for example, manganese (Mn, 97.0%), nickel (Ni, 40.0%), and iron (Fe, 32.5%). Also, 121 children assessed were exposed to multiple PTEs. These findings underscore the urgent need for environmental remediation and public health interventions in mining-impacted territories. %: percentage, COVID-19: coronavirus disease 2019.

Indigenous populations in Brazil were prioritized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccination due to their increased vulnerability. The aim of the study was to describe COVID‐19 vaccination coverage among Indigenous population across Brazilian regions and Special Indigenous Health Districts (DSEIs; acronym for Distritos Sanitários Especiais Indígenas ). A retrospective study was conducted using data from January 17, 2021, to June 27, 2024, obtained from the open‐access COVID‐19 vaccination database made available by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, covering the 4‐year period of the pandemic. The dataset included information on the Indigenous population (number of inhabitants), as well as the number and type of vaccine doses administered (first dose, second dose, single dose, and booster dose). Second dose refers to vaccines requiring a two‐dose primary schedule, whereas single‐dose refers to vaccines administered as a single primary dose; booster dose refers to any additional dose given after completion of the primary vaccination schedule and, according to the database, was restricted to individuals aged ≥ 18 years. Vaccination coverage was calculated by dividing the number of doses administered by the total Indigenous population, based on estimated from the 2022 Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE; acronym for Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística ) Census, and multiplying by 100. The data was analyzed and presented according to Brazil's federative units (states and the Federal District) and DSEIs. A total of 1 490 036 COVID‐19 vaccine doses were administered to the Indigenous population. Of these, 631 990 (42%) corresponded to first doses, 551 602 (27%) to second or single doses, and 306 444 (21%) to booster doses. These doses corresponded to vaccination coverage of 89%, 78%, and 43% of the Indigenous population ( N = 707 739), respectively. Across the 27 federative units, the lowest coverage for the first dose was observed in Tocantins (83%), Roraima (74%), and Pará (73%), while for second or single doses the lowest rates were found in Amapá (63%), Roraima (60%), and Pará (58%). Among the 34 DSEIs, 13 (38.2%) did not reach 90% coverage for the first dose, and 21 (61.8%) did not reach this threshold for the second or single doses. The lowest coverage levels were identified in Araguaia (65% and 44%), Rio Tapajós (59% and 40%), and Kaiapó do Pará (56% and 34%) for first and second or single doses, respectively. Vaccination coverage against COVID‐19 among Brazil's Indigenous population has not fully reached the 90% target recommended by the Brazilian government in alignment with the World Health Organization after 4 years of the pandemic. This gap may be explained by multiple factors, including cultural barriers, remote geographic conditions, and logistical challenges related to vaccine distribution.