An evaluation of the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Zambia's routine immunization program.

ABSTRACT: Implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for both populations and healthcare systems are vast. In addition to morbidity and mortality from COVID-19, the pandemic also disrupted local health systems, including reductions or delays in routine vaccination services and catch-up vaccination campaigns. These disruptions could lead to outbreaks of other infectious diseases that result in an additional burden of disease and strain on the healthcare system. We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Zambia's routine childhood immunization program in 2020 using multiple sources of data. We relied on administrative vaccination data and Zambia's 2018 Demographic and Health Survey to project national disruptions to district-specific routine childhood vaccination coverage within the pandemic year

SUBMITTER: Winter AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10153718 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature