A study to assess the impact of lockdown on vaccination among people visiting for routine immunization of children to urban training health centre

ABSTRACT

Background: The recent new coronavirus disease or COVID-19 pandemic has affected the health services, particularly the essential services too. One of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is that vaccination efforts that help control other diseases may be put on hold. This may lead to increased strain on health systems, and increase in morbidity and mortality due to vaccine-preventable disease in the coming years in future generation. Aims and Objectives: This study aim to study the impact of lockdown and reasons for this impact on vaccination. Materials and Methods: The proposed study is a cross-sectional type of study conducted among people accompanying the children to the UTHC, Amritsar, for vaccination. They were interviewed in a pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire. Results: Most of the children were accompanied by their mothers (70.61%). Majority of the children had a delay of 1 week–1 month (32.62%) followed by 1–3 months gap (23.66%) in the first scheduled vaccination post-lockdown. Majority (50.44%) of them said that because of fear of COVID, they did not come for vaccination on due date. In the 2nd scheduled dose following first schedule dose post-lockdown was <1 month delay (94.74%) and the reason for delay was family problems (43.75%). Majority of the children delay in the 3rd scheduled dose following the first and second schedule doses, post-lockdown was <1 week (89.29%) and only 10.71% had a delay of 1 week–1 month. Conclusion: Many parents were not able to vaccinate their children because of fear of COVID and lockdown restrictions. There is an urgent need to address these issues.