Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the uptake of routine immunization vaccines in Swat District in Pakistan

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic affected life-saving childhood immunization globally and affected Vaccine-Preventable Diseases eradication and elimination efforts. During the initial phase of the pandemic, some countries temporarily stopped vaccination campaigns against measles, meningitis, polio, tetanus, typhoid, and yellow fever. This study was conducted to quantify the effect of COVID-19 on EPI vaccination. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the district Swat of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa from June to August 2022. The data was extracted from the EPI Management Information System for the four months of the pre-pandemic period and four months of the lockdown period. The pre-pandemic four-month data was taken as a baseline and was compared with the four-months lockdown period. A 7-19% decrease was found during the lockdown period in various antigen coverage. Coverage of Penta-3 was most affected having a 19% decrease while measles coverage was less affected showing a 7% decrease during the lockdown period. BCG coverage was affected by 14%, PCV by 11 to 18%, Rota by 12 to 16%, and IPV by 18%. The vaccination coverage improved in the later months of the lockdown, but the number of defaulters and zero-dose children increased. To fill this gap, a robust strategy for vaccination is recommended.