Peer-reviewed article
Impact of the COVID-19 Era on Routine Child Immunization Coverage and Resurgence of Measles and Pertussis
Khalil Essam Abutouq, Munther Abdelrahman Saleh Khdairat ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This review examines how COVID-19 disrupted routine childhood immunization services worldwide, leading to declines in vaccination coverage across all WHO regions. The pandemic created immunity gaps and contributed to resurgences of measles and pertussis, particularly in areas where coverage fell below herd-immunity thresholds. Health systems implemented catch-up campaigns, outreach efforts, and digital tracking systems, but implementation has been uneven and under-resourced. The authors call for sustained catch-up strategies, equity-focused recovery plans, and improved monitoring systems for routine immunizations.
Key points
- All WHO regions experienced declines in childhood immunization coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Recovery from coverage declines has been heterogeneous, with widening gaps in settings with pre-existing under-immunization
- Many areas developed zero-dose pockets and experienced increasing outbreaks of measles and pertussis where coverage dropped below herd-immunity thresholds
- Health systems deployed catch-up campaigns, additional outreach, and digital trackers, though implementation was uneven and under-resourced
- COVID-19 disruptions created immunity gaps leading to renewed measles and pertussis transmissions
Limitations
This is a literature review that synthesizes existing evidence rather than collecting original data, so it cannot provide definitive quantitative estimates for specific countries or time periods. The document does not detail the specific methodologies or quality assessments of the individual studies included in the review.
Abstract
The COVID-19 virus has impacted routine immunization services targeting children across the world. Through this paper, the authors aim to access the situation that is happening. This review aims to assess how and to what extent routine childhood immunization coverage has declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, early signals that suggest the resurgence of measles and pertussis and what this means for policy and health system resilience We combined the latest world and regional proof on changes in coverage, timeliness and completion of core childhood vaccines. We did administrative evidence, modelling studies and outbreak reports to take into account inequities by region, income level and vulnerable groups. All WHO regions saw coverage declines during the pandemic, with recovery being heterogeneous and widening gaps in settings with pre-existing under-immunization. New information shows many delays, many zero-dose pockets, and increasing outbreaks of measles and pertussis in areas where coverage has dropped below herd-immunity thresholds. Catch-up campaigns, additional outreach, and digital trackers were deployed by health systems, though implementation is uneven and under-resourced. Disruptions due to COVID-19 resulted in an immunity gap and renewed measles and pertussis transmissions. We need catch-up strategies that last, recovery plans that focus on equity, and monitoring and evaluation systems for routine immunizations.