Continuing routine immunisations during the Covid-19 pandemic is vital to save lives. Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) urges all families to stick to the routine immunisation schedule and reschedule any missed appointments.
New research has highlighted the need for maintaining routine childhood vaccination programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic. The modelling study, published in
The Lancet Global Health, looked at routine vaccination in all 54 countries of Africa and found that the number of child deaths averted through vaccination far exceeded the number of excess COVID-19 deaths that might be associated with clinic visits.
For every additional COVID-19 death that might be associated with additional exposure to the virus during routine clinic visits, its predicated that 84 deaths in children under five years of age could be prevented by continuing with routine vaccinations.
The findings suggest that continuing with usual vaccination schedules could prevent 702,000 child deaths from the point of immunisation until they reach five years of age.
If you, or a loved one, have missed a vaccine appointment during the Covid-19 outbreak, it is vital that you reschedule those appointments as soon as you can. If you have
questions or concerns, please contact our helpline on 080 8800 3344 / helpline@meningitis.org.