Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Routine Vaccination Coverage among Children of Age 15 to 23 Months in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

Authors

  • Komal Khadim Hussain Department of Pediatric Medicine, Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Hasan Danish Department of Community Medicine, Ziauddin Medical College & University Karachi, Pakistan
  • Farah Ahmad Department of Community Medicine, Ziauddin Medical College & University Karachi, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53685/jshmdc.v4i1.149

Keywords:

Routine vaccination coverage, COVID-19 pandemic, Children, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected all socio-economic activities including the provision of routine vaccinations.

Objective: This study determined the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine vaccination rates among children aged 15-23 months.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lahore, from April 2021 to November 2021.  The study included 750 children aged 15 to 23 months from the District of Lahore. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the outpatient department of Services Hospital, Lahore after informed consent. The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 26. The p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Among the study participants, 567 (75%) children had completed their routine vaccines according to the card. One hundred and eighty-three (24.2%) children were not fully vaccinated. Seven hundred and twenty-seven (96.2%) children had oral polio 1 (OPV I), while 693 (91.7%) had Pneumococcal 2 (PCV II), and 696 (92.1%) had taken the Pentavalent 1 vaccine. Measles 2 was received by only 604 (79.9%) children. Sixty-three (8.3%) mothers and caregivers were unaware of the need for vaccination. Twenty-seven (3.6%) mothers had no time to get their children vaccinated, and 27 (3.4%) were uninformed about their children’s vaccination appointments.

Conclusion: The vaccination rate was 36% lower among children of ages 15-23 months in the Lahore district compared to the pre-pandemic era.

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Published

06/27/2023

How to Cite

1.
Khadim Hussain K, Danish H, Ahmad F. Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Routine Vaccination Coverage among Children of Age 15 to 23 Months in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. J Shalamar Med Dent Coll [Internet]. 2023 Jun. 27 [cited 2023 Dec. 8];4(1):53-60. Available from: https://journal.smdc.edu.pk/index.php/journal/article/view/149

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Original Articles