COVID-19 Pandemic: India Saw Sharpest Decline In Routine Vaccination For Children

Picture courtesy The Economic Times

New Delhi: There has been a universal decline in routine vaccination among children since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic last year.

According to a joint report by World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the sharpest drop took place in India with data revealing it was most pronounced in second quarter of 2020.

“India is experiencing a particularly large drop, with DTP (diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus) coverage falling from 91% to 85%,” said Dr Om Prakash, medical officer in the paediatric department of Darbhanga Medical College.

According to WHO surveillance medical officer Dr Basavraj Katarki, the reason behind this decline in regular vaccination among children was imposition of COVID-induced lockdown, migration of people, and decline in healthcare facilities amid the pandemic crisis. Other key factors were preferential treatment of COVID-positive patients and reduction in number of auxiliary nursing midwives, he added.

Dr Katarki, while addressing a workshop on vaccination and surveillance during coronavirus pandemic, said that WHO and UNICEF National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) estimates of national immunization coverage has shown major decrease in childhood vaccination.

“With the relaxation in lockdown, the schedule of routine immunisation has to be stepped up to make up for the drop in vaccination among children and give them a safe childhood,” Dr Katarki asserted.