Publication:

Impact of COVID-19 on routine immunization at immunoprophylaxis clinic of tertiary care center of central India: a cross-sectional study

Background The global COVID-19 pandemic is overstretching existing health systems. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the world to implement drastic prevention methods based on limiting population movements that have an impact on public health policies such as vaccination. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on routine immunization at an immunoprophylaxis clinic of the tertiary care centre.

Methods a record-based cross-sectional study was carried out during the 4 months, (February to May) 2020 in the Immunization Clinic of Tertiary Care Center of central India. Vaccines included in the study were OPV, IPV, ROTA, PENTA, MR, and DPT. Data analysis was done by using software open EPI, p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results The study showed a prominent decline in the percentage of children who came for immunization during the period of lockdown due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This downward trend continued from the month of February, as the months progressed and till May arrived, the fraction of children vaccinated in 2020 as compared to 2019 saw a very significant reduction, (p<0.000). individual vaccine-wise immunization status of under 5 children also shows a downward trend in the year 2020 as compared to the year 2019.

Conclusions There was a sharp decline in the utilization of immunization services in a tertiary care center in central India.