Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Vaccination Compliance

Corona virus disease (COVID-19) is a disease caused by a new corona virus called Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). On March 11, the WHO Director-General
declared COVID-19 a pandemic1. The first outbreak occurred in Wuhan, China. 2,3 COVID-19
pandemic has severely affected global health services.4 It is important not to overlook the
value of some public health preventive interventions which cannot be postponed, such as
vaccinations.5 As reported by WHO, the disruption of immunization services, even for brief
periods, will result in increased numbers of susceptible individuals, raising the risks of an
upsurge in outbreak-prone VPDs.6 The reduction of vaccination coverage could cause an
increase in morbidity and mortality among children. Consequently, a greater burden could be
placed on health systems. Examples from previous large epidemics (e.g. diphtheria in the
former Soviet Union in 1990-1996 and in Venezuela in 2017-2018) show that, when vaccination
coverage falls or vaccinations are disrupted, cases of infectious diseases that have
disappeared can quickly re-emerge.7-8 Egypt declared a national state of emergency to control
COVID-19 pandemic and implemented a stay-at-home order. Such strategies might result in
decreased accessibility to routine immunization services, leaving children at risk for
vaccine-preventable diseases and their complications.9 Great efforts are needed for rapid
catch-up of children not up-to-date with routine vaccines. Parental concerns about
potentially exposing their children to COVID-19 during vaccination visits might contribute to
incompalince.10 Reminding parents of the vital need to protect their children against serious
vaccine-preventable diseases is critical.