Covid-19 in itself may not be virulent for the kids but travel restrictions, delivery delays and parents’ fear of leaving home amid Coronavirus outbreak have thrown in disarray the global immunisation programme-putting approximately 80 million children under the age of one, both in rich and poor countries alike, at risk of diseases like diphtheria, measles, and polio.
These are the observation of the World Health Organisation, UNICEF, Gavi and the Sabin Vaccine Institute.
The reasons for disrupted services vary. Some parents are reluctant to leave home because of restrictions on movement, lack of information or because they fear infection with the ovid-19 virus.
Other than that, many health workers are also unavailable because of restrictions on travel, or redeployment to Covid response duties, as well as a lack of protective equipment.
"Disruption to immunisation programmes from the Covid-19 pandemic threatens to unwind decades of progress against vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, said WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Measles and polio vaccination campaigns, in particular, have been badly hit, with measles campaigns suspended in 27 countries and polio campaigns put on hold in 38 countries.
At least 24 million people in 21 Gavi-supported lower-income countries are at risk of missing out on vaccines against polio, measles, typhoid, yellow fever, cholera, rotavirus, HPV, meningitis and rubella due to postponed campaigns and introductions of new vaccines.
India has recently issued advisory, asking the states to continue with the vaccine immunisation programme irrespective of the categorisation of coronavirus disease containment zone but maintaining physical distancing norms.
The world organisations noted that since March 2020, routine childhood immunisation services have been disrupted on a global scale that may be unprecedented since the inception of expanded programs on immunisation (EPI) in the 1970s. More than half (53 per cent) of the 129 countries where data were available reported moderate-to-severe disruptions, or a total suspension of vaccination services during March-April 2020.
Gavi CEO Dr. Seth Berkley said: "Due to Covid-19 this immense progress is now under threat, risking the resurgence of diseases like measles and polio. Not only will maintaining immunisation programmes prevent more outbreaks, it will also ensure we have the infrastructure we need to roll out an eventual Covid-19 vaccine on a global scale."
Transport delays of vaccines are exacerbating the situation. UNICEF has reported a substantial delay in planned vaccine deliveries due to the lockdown measures and the ensuing decline in commercial flights and limited availability of charters.
"We cannot let our fight against one disease come at the expense of long-term progress in our fight against other diseases," said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director.