Two steps forward, one step back
Childhood immunisations are among the most cost effective, equitable, and successful interventions of all times. The World Health Organizations expanded programme on immunisation has ensured that routine childhood immunisations are available in every country, and vaccination is believed to save around three million lives annually.1 Eligible low and middle income countries have been supported by Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance) and Unicef to improve access to new and underused vaccines.
Vaccination coverage increased substantially between 2000 and 2019, averting about 37 million deaths globally during that period. The global coverage of DTP3 (three doses of the combined diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine), third polio dose, and first measles dose was 84%-86% globally by 2019, and coverage of the second dose of measles vaccine increased from 42% to 71% from 2010 to 2019. Coverage of more recently recommended vaccines such as rotavirus, pneumococcal conjugate, rubella, and hepatitis B also increased.23
Vaccination coverage had plateaued before the covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, however, and cracks had appeared in the once successful implementation programme. In 2019 alone, 19.7 million children, particularly in low and middle income countries did not receive their third dose of DTP, and 70% of these had not received a single dose of DTP vaccine (zero dose children). In Africa the dropout rate between the first and third dose of DTP was estimated at 9%. Between 2010 and 2019, increasing numbers of children received no immunisationsmost of whom were in Gavi supported countries in WHOs Africa (increase from 6.1 million to 6.8 million), Western Pacific (0.9 million to 1.2 million), and Americas regions (0.5 million to 1.5 million)because of a failure to deliver services to the hardest to reach, last mile populations. As countries reached middle income levels, those previously supported by Gavi found themselves with limited access to vaccines.24
The pandemic and ensuing restrictive preventive measures exposed weaknesses in all health systems. It was deeply damaging for primary healthcare services, particularly routine immunisation programmes globally. Many countries, especially those with low or middle incomes, experienced interruptions in routine immunisation campaigns and services, restrictions in supply and access to vaccines (for example, shortages of BCG vaccine because of increased unproved use for covid-19), shortages of healthcare staff and personal protective equipment, and disruptions in access to vaccination services.
Vaccine hesitancy increased as a result of rampant misinformation on vaccine safety and development.56 All this quickly reduced vaccine demand and coverage, allowing breakthrough outbreaks. Measles outbreaks are on the rise worldwideincidence increased by 79% globally in the first two months of 2022 compared with the same time in 2021,7 and at least 21 outbreaks were reported, especially in Africa and the eastern Mediterranean.8 Global progress in polio eradication has been halted by fresh outbreaks, triggering major vaccination campaigns in Africa and elsewhere.9
Signs of falling vaccine coverage and increasing vaccine hesitancy and measles mortality existed before covid-19. Although mass vaccination campaigns have returned to pre-pandemic capabilities, they do not tackle the long term issues underlying these trends. Nonetheless, the pandemic provided an opportunity to rethink the expanded programme on immunisation. A new, improved, sustainable, and pandemic-proof routine vaccination programme can now be developed informed by the strategies implemented by countries and organisations to combat the pandemic. For example, WHOs 2030 immunisation agenda is people centred, country owned, partnership based, and guided by data, with implementation drawing on the lessons from the pandemic.10
Countries, communities, and local, international, and multilateral organisations can all do more, however. One of the lessons from Covax, the global initiative to ensure equitable and rapid access to covid-19 vaccines,11 is that it is possible to join forces, secure funding, and accelerate vaccine development. If this could be done for covid-19 vaccines, it can be done for other vaccines.
Several changes will be required to implement recovery measures and integrate covid-19 vaccination into routine immunisation. Firstly, countries should include all age groups in their routine immunisation programmes in order to reach high risk groups (elderly people, healthcare workers, people with underlying disorders) and include newer adult vaccines such as influenza and shingles. Secondly, digital health integration should be accelerated to allow effective delivery of vaccines, programme monitoring, and surveillance. Thirdly, investment should be increased to ensure a healthcare workforce that is robust in both numbers and quality of training. Fourthly, given the failure of Covax to counter national self-interest, regional manufacturing and distribution hubs for vaccines and health supplies should be created in low and middle income countries to facilitate equitable access to vaccines. And, finally, social marketing and mobilisation activities should be employed to tackle vaccine hesitancy and decreasing vaccine demand as part of routine immunisation programmes.12
See the article here:
Closing the gap in childhood immunisation after the pandemic - The BMJ