WHO Highlights COVID-19 Interferes With Child Immunization Programs In The World

Posted by WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Twitter @WHO)

JAKARTA - The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said the corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was far from over. The epidemic is still disrupting the stability of normal health services, one of which has resulted in stagnating the vaccination program. The health of children, especially in the poorest countries, is under threat.

WHO, referred to by Reuters is concerned about the increasing number of positive cases of COVID-19 and its deaths in Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America and several Asian countries, although in rich countries the number of cases has decreased.

"We still have a long way to go and much remains to be done," WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a virtual press conference in Geneva.

The virus that emerged at the start of last year in Wuhan, China has infected 2.97 million people and claimed 205,948 lives.

Vaccination of children

Tedros is worried that the impact of this pandemic will threaten the health of children. This is because due to the pandemic, the vaccination program for other diseases has been disrupted.

"Children may be at relatively low risk from COVID-19, but there could be a higher risk of other vaccine-preventable diseases," said Tedros.

According to WHO, no less than 13 million people worldwide have been affected because of delays in routine immunizations. The immunizations include polio, measles, cholera, yellow fever and meningitis.

Citing data from the GAVI global vaccine alliance, it is reported that there are 21 countries that lack vaccines against other diseases. This is due to border restriction policies and travel disruptions because many countries have been forced to close access to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In Africa, for example. Tedros said, malaria cases there could double because of the termination of this immunization program.

"It doesn't have to happen, we are working with many countries to support them," said Tedros.