Peer-reviewed article
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine childhood immunisation coverage and timeliness in Switzerland: a retrospective analysis using data from the Swiss National Vaccination Coverage Survey, 2019–2023
Vasiliki Baroutsou, Monica N. Wymann, Jan S. Fehr, Phung Lang ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This study used data from the Swiss National Vaccination Coverage Survey, 2019–2023, to compare routine immunisation of children under 35 months before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children eligible for a vaccine from March 2020 to March 2021 were compared with those eligible earlier. Coverage stayed high, and there were small drops in the timeliness of diphtheria and pneumococcal vaccination. Measles-containing vaccine coverage was higher during the pandemic. The authors conclude that the pandemic did not significantly change the overall likelihood of vaccination, and that changes to vaccination recommendations in 2019 may also have affected the trends.
Key points
- Diphtheria vaccine coverage remained high, while timely vaccination fell by about 1% to 3% for some doses compared with pre-COVID-19 levels.
- Pneumococcal vaccine coverage (PCV1, PCV2, PCV3) showed slight reductions during the pandemic, but the differences were not statistically significant.
- Coverage of measles-containing vaccines (MCV1 and MCV2) was higher during the pandemic than before.
- Urban setting, nationality and linguistic region significantly influenced childhood vaccination rates.
- Changes in vaccination recommendations introduced in 2019 may have influenced the trends.
Limitations
The data come from a cross-sectional survey, so the study can show associations but cannot establish what caused the changes. The authors say that changes to vaccination recommendations in 2019 may have affected the trends, which makes the pandemic's own effect harder to separate out.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems worldwide, leading to concerns about reduced access to routine childhood immunisations. However, comprehensive data on how the pandemic specifically impacted paediatric vaccination coverage in Switzerland remain limited across the country. The present study provides an analysis of the timeliness and coverage of routine childhood immunisations in Switzerland before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering insights into potential fluctuations in coverage. AIMS: To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine childhood immunisation in Switzerland by comparing vaccination coverage and timeliness for children under 35 months of age before and during the pandemic. Additionally, the study seeks to identify factors associated with the likelihood of children receiving vaccinations, considering demographic and geographic variables. METHODS: We used 2019–2023 data from the Swiss National Vaccination Coverage Survey (SNVCS), a cross-sectional survey that collected immunisation information of children under 35 months of age from a nationally representative sample of households. Children who were eligible for a vaccine from March 2020 to March 2021 were considered as the COVID-affected group and those eligible for a vaccine before this date were included in the pre-COVID-19 cohort. Coverage of the following vaccine doses was considered: diphtheria at one, two and three doses (Di1, Di2, Di3); pneumococcus at one, two and three doses (PCV1, PCV2, PCV3); and measles first and second dose (MCV1, MCV2). Vaccine timeliness was defined as receiving a dose on time with a tolerance period of 30 days. We used logistic regression models to identify and understand the factors that might influence vaccination rates. RESULTS: For the diphtheria vaccines (Di1, Di2, Di3), while coverage remained high, there was a slight decrease observed in timely vaccination rates for some doses, with reductions of around 1% to 3% compared to pre-COVID-19 levels. The impact on PCV1, PCV2 and PCV3 showed similar trends, with slight reductions in coverage during the pandemic, but these differences were not statistically significant. For measles-containing vaccines (MCV1 and MCV2), coverage during the pandemic was higher compared to pre-COVID-19 rates. Geographic and demographic factors, such as an urban setting, nationality and linguistic region, significantly influence childhood vaccination rates in Switzerland. CONCLUSION: While minor declines in vaccine timeliness were observed (diphtheria vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine), the overall likelihood of vaccination was not significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, changes in vaccination recommendations introduced in 2019 may have influenced these trends.