Did you know approximately 80 million children are currently at risk of diseases such as diphtheria, measles and polio?
This follows the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting immunization services around the world. This now puts millions of children, in rich and poor countries alike, at risk of diseases like diphtheria, measles and polio.
This comes from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, ahead of the Global Vaccine Summit on June 4.
At the Global Vaccine Summit, world leaders will come together to help maintain immunization programmes and mitigate the impact of the pandemic in lower-income countries.
According to data collected by the WHO, UNICEF, Gavi and the Sabin Vaccine Institute, provision of routine immunization services is substantially hindered in at least 68 countries. According to a statement by WHO, this will likely affect approximately 80 million children under the age of one who live in these countries.
In its statement, WHO explains that since March 2020, routine childhood immunization services have been disrupted on a global scale.
The organisation explains that more than half (53%) of the 129 countries, where data were available, reported moderate-to-severe disruptions, or a total suspension of vaccination services during March-April 2020.
According to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, immunization is one of the most powerful and fundamental disease prevention tools in the history of public health.
“Disruption to immunization programmes from the COVID-19 pandemic threatens to unwind decades of progress against vaccine-preventable diseases like measles,” he explains.
The reasons for disrupted services vary.
According to WHO, some parents are reluctant to leave home because of restrictions on movement, lack of information or because they fear infection with the COVID-19 virus. A certain number of health workers are also unavailable because of restrictions on travel, or redeployment to COVID response duties, as well as a lack of protective equipment.
“More children in more countries are now protected against more vaccine-preventable diseases than at any point in history,” said Dr. Seth Berkley, Gavi CEO.
Dr Berkley adds that due to COVID-19, this immense progress is now under threat. This sees the risk of the resurgence of diseases like measles and polio.
“Not only will maintaining immunization 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 also exacerbating the situation.
In its statement, WHO explains UNICEF a substantial delay in planned vaccine deliveries. This is due to the lockdown measures and the ensuing decline in commercial flights and limited availability of charters.
To help mitigate this, UNICEF is appealing to governments, the private sector, the airline industry, and others, to free up freight space at an affordable cost for these life-saving vaccines.
Gavi recently signed an agreement with UNICEF to provide advance funding to cover increased freight costs for delivery of vaccines, in light of the reduced number of commercial flights available for transport.
“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.
Fore adds UNICEF has effective vaccines against measles, polio and cholera. While circumstances may require them to temporarily pause some immunization efforts, these immunizations must restart as soon as possible, or we are at risk of exchanging one deadly outbreak for another.
With scores of lives at risk, people are encouraged to ensure they receive the necessary vaccinations when they can. By vaccinating yourselves and your children, you will be able to help stop other potential pandemics.
