The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a major decline in childhood vaccinations globally, as 23 million children missed out on routine vaccinations last year across the world, report two UN agencies. 

This is the highest figure since 2009. This is also around four million more than that in the year prior to the crisis, suggest the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UNICEF data. WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that while several nations are trying to get the COVID-19 vaccines, the situation has worsened with regard to other vaccinations, thus making the kids vulnerable to preventable diseases such as polio, measles and meningitis. There has been extensive disruption to immunization services due to the pandemic, with South East Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean being the most affected… (UN, July 14, 2021)