The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on childhood vaccination programs worldwide, leaving more than 60 million children without a single dose of standard childhood vaccines. This disruption has resulted in large outbreaks of diseases that primarily affect children. Some key points from the article include:
- By mid-2023, 47 countries were reporting serious measles outbreaks, compared to 16 countries in June 2020.
- Nigeria is currently experiencing its largest diphtheria outbreak, with over 17,000 suspected cases and nearly 600 deaths.
- Twelve countries, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, are reporting cases of circulating polio virus.
- Many of the children who missed their vaccinations have now aged out of routine immunization programs, and these “zero-dose children” account for nearly half of all child deaths from vaccine-preventable diseases.
- An additional 85 million children are underimmunized, having received only part of the required vaccine course due to the pandemic.
- Deaths from measles increased by 43% in 2022, compared to the previous year, and the figures for 2023 suggest that the total could be even higher.
- UNICEF is urging countries to implement a catch-up vaccination blitz targeting children aged 1 to 4 who were missed during the pandemic. They are requesting $350 million from Gavi to purchase vaccines for this effort.
- Reaching these children is challenging because they are now older than those typically seen in routine vaccination programs, requiring extra efforts and investments.
- Disinformation campaigns and COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy have contributed to a decline in confidence in routine immunizations in some countries.
- The disruption in childhood vaccination programs has led to a surge in vaccine-preventable diseases, with measles acting as an early warning system for gaps in immunization.
Efforts are underway to address these challenges and ensure that children receive the vaccines they need to protect them from preventable diseases.