� , ��� confirmed measles cases and �0� related deaths .
These emerging outbreaks are a matter of great concern . They call for urgent and sustained public health interventions . Unless these are put in place , the compounding effects of the pandemic could derail regional progress towards the global immunisation targets that secure the health and wellbeing of infants and children .
The resurgence of deadly vaccine preventable diseases underscores the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage rates . Children everywhere must have access to all the recommended lifesaving vaccines they need . The disruptions observed during the COVID pandemic also highlight the importance of establishing resilient health systems . Systems must be able to withstand acute and prolonged shocks while delivering essential health services like immunisation programmes .
Immunisation before COVID It is important to contextualise the performance of routine immunisation programmes within the African region . Even before the pandemic , the African region was already contending with a precarious situation .
�or one , an estimated �0 . � million children under five continue to suffer from vaccine preventable diseases . These include rotavirus diarrhoea , pneumonia , pertussis and measles . Of these children , more than 520,000 die each year because of poor access to essential immunisation services .
The continent ’ s health systems have to manage on average 150 cases of disease outbreaks and other public health emergencies every year . These range from armed con�icts to climate-related disasters �including �ooding , drought , and famine ) and disease outbreaks . National routine immunisation programmes have had to function in this context .
The pandemic widened immunisation gaps On the continent the pandemic has substantially disrupted national routine immunisation programmes . In many countries health systems were forced to divert limited resources to combat the pandemic . This often left immunisation services vulnerable .
At the height of the pandemic , several countries reported having to suspend vaccination services . There were disruptions to vaccine supply chains which led to stockouts . The number of people taking up immunisation services declined due to restrictions on public gathering . Many people also feared being exposed to the virus at health facilities .
A good measure of the COVID-related disruptions to immunisation programmes is the coverage of the three doses of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis ( DTP3 ) vaccine . The WHO uses the coverage of DTP3 to monitor access to immunisation services and measure the performance of broader health systems .
The WHO report shows that the COVID-19 pandemic
contributed to a general decline in DTP3 coverage globally – irrespective of economic power or income level .
In Africa , national immunisation programmes in several countries maintained optimal performance , achieving DTP3 coverage rates above 90 %. These included Algeria , Botswana , Burkina Faso , Burundi , Ghana , Kenya , Malawi , Mauritius , Namibia , Sierra Leone , Uganda and Zambia .
Of concern , however , are the 29 countries that recorded coverage of less than 90 %, creating substantial immunisation gaps .
The increased misinformation and disinformation during the pandemic also led to some decline in public trust and confidence in immunisation services . This has significantly affected vaccine demand .
Charting a way forward The pandemic provides useful lessons on the importance of continuously strengthening health systems and �crisis-proofing� national routine immunisation programmes .
COVID-19 has been a catalyst for renewed political interest in immunisation programmes . But this must be followed up with regional solidarity to re-prioritise routine immunisation in the national and regional public health agendas .
National governments will have the responsibility to secure and sustain donor funding while increasing domestic financial commitments that will fill the funding gaps for national immunisation programmes . This is in line with the declarations they have endorsed .
But most importantly , there ’ s a need to intensify demand for vaccines and immunisation programmes . This is critical to build back public confidence and trust in vaccines and immunisation services in a post-COVID world . n
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com SEPTEMBER 2022
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