January 27, 2021

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Immunization Campaigns and Programs: A Systematic Review

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

Keywords (Tags): global health, immunization, public health

A systematic review of 17 studies examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on existing global vaccination programs found a reduction in vaccination coverage and a decline in the total number of vaccines administered. Polio cases increased by about fourfold in polio endemic countries. Factors contributing to low vaccine coverage included fear of being exposed to the virus at health care facilities, restriction on city-wide movements, shortage of workers, and diversion of resources from child health to address the pandemic. 10 of these studies focused on campaigns in high-income countries.

Lassi et al. (Jan 22, 2021). The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Immunization Campaigns and Programs: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18030988