Immunization Backlog: The Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Child Vaccination in Bangladesh using Household Surveys

29, April 2020 | Bangladesh

Authors:

Abstract

Over the past decades, Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in several health indicators and outcomes. Among the health indicators, high vaccina�on coverage, achieved through the successful implementa�on of the Expanded Program on Immuniza�on (EPI), is noteworthy. It has facilitated the rapid reduc�on in child morbidity and mortality in Bangladesh. During COVID-19 pandemic, the lockdowns, social or physical distancing, and other precau�onary measures disrupt the child vaccina�on program, posing a risk of a possible upsurge in otherwise vaccine-preventable diseases. To understand the possible effects of COVID-19 on the uptake of prescribed vaccines, in May 2020, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health surveyed 389 women who gave birth between June 2019 and February 2020. The respondents were drawn from a list of women workers of a large semi-formal manufacturer. The survey was conducted over the phone ensuring all the ethical standards.