Immunity and COVID

Vaccines play the most important role in protecting both adults and children against different serious and deadly diseases, by stimulating the body’s natural defences; Vaccines help the body to fight the disease faster and more effectively. Children are recommended to be vaccinated to prevent diseases like Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Poliovirus, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), Pneumococcal diseases, Rotavirus, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Human papillomavirus.¹

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly disrupted the regular vaccination services in most of the countries throughout the world, especially Southeast Asian and Eastern Mediterranean Regions are most affected.  As per the official data published by WHO and UNICEF about 23 million children missed out on basic vaccines through routine immunization services in 2020 and many are missing even the second dose. ²

Before the COVID-19 pandemic started the global childhood vaccination rate around the world was 86% against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles and polio. Diseases like measles outbreaks two years ago have affected many children, so vaccinating children against such diseases and preventing resurgence is necessary. The rate of vaccinations against human papillomavirus (HPV) among girls to protect against cervical cancer later in life – has also reduced considerably due to school closures. This resulted in approximately 1.6 million more girls missing out on HPV vaccinations. As compared to 15% of girls being vaccinated in 2019, only 13 % were vaccinated in 2020.²

As a priority and emergency need, maximum resources, health care personnel have been occupied in supporting the COVID-19 situation, which has disrupted the other immunization services in many parts of the world. Due to lockdown and restrictions, the transportation system has been disrupted and as preventive measures, many clinics have been closed or the working hours have been reduced. Additionally, the fear of transmission and infection among common people has lead to fewer visits to hospitals, clinics or avail healthcare benefits. These have added to the low rate of vaccination.

Developing countries like India, which is the worst hit and affected the most after the second wave India has reported the highest increase in children who did not receive the first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis combined vaccine (DTP-1) in 2019 and 2020. Further, it was also observed that India is seeing a large drop, with DTP-3 coverage falling from 91% to 85%.As per preliminary data for the first four months of 2020 from WHO and UNICEF is is evident that  there has been a significant drop in the number of children completing three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP3) and this was the  first time in 28 years that the world saw a reduction in DTP3 coverage. ^2,3

To recover from the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, different agencies along with WHO and UNICEF have started working together to strengthen immunization systems restoring services and vaccination campaigns so countries can safely deliver routine immunization programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic; helping health workers and community leaders to educate people regarding the importance of childhood vaccination along with COVID-19 vaccination; Covering places which were missed during the pandemic and ensure to deliver the global Immunization Agenda 2030, which aims to achieve 90% coverage for essential childhood vaccines.²

The world is facing a tough time, but working together and collaboratively the routine vaccination in the track can be brought back and again can help to ensure the wellbeing and healthy lives of millions of children throughout the world.

References

1. https://www.unicef.org/parenting/health/vaccines-and-diseases-they-prevent
2. https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/covid-19-pandemic-leads-major-backsliding-childhood-vaccinations-new-who-unicef-data
3. https://www.who.int/news/item/15-07-2020-who-and-unicef-warn-of-a-decline-in-vaccinations-during-covid-19