Illustrative photo. A child gets vaccinated in Hanoi. Photo by Hanoimoi
According to the statement released on April 24, the COVID-19 pandemic is overstretching health care systems. The pandamic has already disrupted immunization services in many places because health workers have been reassigned to the pandemic response and in many instances, they have also been discouraged to conduct routine activities involving physical interactions with healthy people. Some parents are consciously avoiding health care facilities, worried that the COVID-19 virus could be transmitted to them and their babies. At this critical time, children are missing important milestones in their immunization schedule and this situation could put their health at risk. Data from around the world indicate that more than 117 million children are at risk of missing out on measles vaccines globally due to the pandemic, and Vietnam is not an exception. We have observed in the country a decrease in vaccine coverage and the occurrence of measles and pertussis cases in the first quarter of 2020.
“The science is clear. Vaccines work,” the statement said. “They are a safe, effective and life-saving tool against certain diseases that can be deadly for children. Immunization can also protect adolescents, adults, older people, and they keep whole communities safe. Viet Nam strives to improve immunization services across the country. The Ministry of Health works on the basis of scientific evidence to build confidence, trust and demand for vaccination among communities and to counter misinformation spread online. WHO and UNICEF are committed to continue providing fact-based information on vaccines to health authorities, to the public in general and to parents in particular with so that everyone can make informed decisions.”
The two organizations said that while Vietnam is on a path to success in containing the spread of COVID-19 now, the fight against that disease may continue for years to come. It should be everyone’s priority to start planning on how we can continue to provide essential health services – including immunization – at any stage of the pandemic.
“We are encouraging health services to reach out, and parents to prioritize securing vaccination to protect their children,” they said. “It is time to setup a plan for routine immunization to return to normal while ensuring social distancing and the safety of health workers and communities. It is also time to work jointly to ensure that those children who missed essential vaccines in the last months are brought up to date with their immunization. As we have learnt in other crisis, when health workers reach families to immunize children it is also a prime opportunity to attend to other key health interventions. UNICEF and WHO stand ready to continue our support to the Government of Vietnam in this effort.”
The World Immunization Week is celebrated from 24-30 April 2020 and this year more than ever is an opportunity to mobilize parents, health workers and allies to highlight the importance of immunization to protect children from preventable diseases.
