Vaccination in the Covid-19 Pandemic

Dr. Parang Mehta, MD.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected almost all countries, and taken a heavy toll of life and health. To keep themselves safe, people everywhere are adhering to the advice to stay home and not go out. Unfortunately, this has had the effect of disrupting childhood vaccination, as parents are scared to bring their children to clinics and hospitals.

Regular childhood vaccines protect against serious and fatal disease. Even with the pandemic, they must be taken

It is, of course, right to be vigilant against the novel Coronavirus (Covid-19) infection. However, the vaccine preventable diseases (see sidebar) are dangerous to ignore. They are dangerous, even fatal, and leaving a child unprotected is very risky. At the community level, too, a large pool of unvaccinated children may lead to outbreaks of these diseases.

So what should we do during this dangerous situation? Leaving the home to go to hospital exposes us to the risk of Coronavirus infection. But not getting the vaccines leaves baby unprotected against several dangerous diseases.

We need Priorities and Precautions.

Priorities

The vaccines given in the first year are of high priority. They protect the child against life threatening or life altering diseases, especially those that are likely during the early months of life. These vaccines must not be delayed, and should be given to babies as per schedule.

The later vaccines, like the hepatitis A vaccine, the typhoid vaccine, and the cervical cancer vaccine, can be postponed by some days during the pandemic situation. The boosters also can be postponed, since the child has received the primary doses and has some protection against those diseases.

High Priority Vaccines

These are the vaccines given in the first year, providing protection to babies against serious and life threatening diseases. These vaccines must be given as per schedule, even in the current pandemic situation.

Precautions

Last Revision: July 2, 2020