The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Immunization Services in India - Possible Challenges and way forward

Abstract

The novel disease COVID-19 which has affected more than 200 countries globally including India, has been declared as pandemic by World Health Organization. The Government of India (GOI) has taken timely measures to contain the human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 in the Country through implementation of lockdown to restrict the travel with relaxation for availing essential commodities and medical services. Domestic and International transport facilities have been stopped. The expansion of this pandemic has adversely affected health seeking behavior of community for other health conditions and the service delivery of essential health services including immunization. Routine immunization targets to immunize around 157 million beneficiaries each year against twelve vaccine preventable diseases. However, due to lockdown and further strategy of containment of COVID - 19, the service delivery under Universal Immunization Program (UIP) is badly affected. In order to avert the implication of delayed immunization on future of the India’s immunization program, this gap need to be addressed by taking timely measures for immunization of due beneficiaries. The present article is an attempt to explain existing immunization practices in India, enumerate possible challenges in delivering immunization services due to COVID-19 and enlist suggestive strategies to overcome those challenges. How to cite this article:Singh V. The Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Immunization Services in India - Possible Challenges and way forward. Epidem Int 2020; 5(2): 53-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/2455.7048.202018