Childhood vaccination coverage ‘fallen significantly’ during COVID – Caricom

The Caribbean Immunization Technical Advisory Group (CITAG) has alerted regional Health Ministers and Chief Medical Officers that routine childhood vaccination coverage in Caribbean countries has fallen significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In some countries, as many as three out of 10 infants are not fully vaccinated, putting them at risk of contracting measles, polio and other diseases that have been eliminated in the Americas but continue to circulate in other areas of the world.
“It is essential that countries conduct routine vaccination campaigns targeted at children under 5 years of age, to ensure that they are fully vaccinated. Countries are urged to involve their pediatricians and private doctors in this campaign, and, where necessary, to employ retired nurses and other health providers to support the health team,” CITAG has advised.
At the same time, CITAG said, it is important to maintain vaccine-preventable disease vigilance, given the increased risk of visitors to the Caribbean re-introducing polio, measles, rubella, or other childhood communicable diseases that are active in their countries.
“We need to improve our surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis and rash and fever surveillance. The CITAG wishes to commend countries for their tremendous work and dedicated response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the face of many challenges. Our health staff and frontline workers have worked extremely hard, with great commitment and sacrifice.”
Despite unrelenting efforts, many Caribbean countries have not yet achieved the WHO goal of vaccinating 70 per cent of the adult population with COVID-19 vaccine. Over 50 per cent of the most vulnerable population — persons over the age of 50 years, and adults with comorbidities — remain unvaccinated.
As such, CITAG has relayed, “The priority for COVID-19 vaccination is to achieve high vaccine coverage among the elderly and persons with comorbidities. We can do this if we improve access by simplifying the vaccination process and increasing opportunities for vaccination, including involving more doctors in the Private Sector. Respectful face-to-face education by trusted persons such as nurses, doctors, and informed grassroots leaders and pastors is needed to address misinformation and misconceptions, and convince many persons to accept vaccination.”
CITAG is recommending that countries first improve routine childhood vaccination coverage and adult COVID-19 vaccination of the elderly and persons with comorbid conditions, before embarking on COVID-19 vaccination of children five to 11 years of age.
Most young children do not get seriously ill from COVID-19, CITAG has noted, and thereby advises that instead of routine COVID-19 vaccination of children under 12 years, countries should target the small number of children with severe immune disorders by having their pediatrician vaccinate them.
It added that every effort should be made to keep schools open, so that children can attend face-to-face classes. Basic precautions should be maintained, such as wearing of masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing, and good ventilation.
“The Caribbean has a significant legacy of strong national immunisation programs resulting in high immunisation coverage of routine childhood vaccines. Governments must continue to prioritise financial and human resources to support all aspects of the EPI Programme,” CITAG has penned.