Routine Immunization Programs for Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ecuador, 2020-Hidden Effects, Predictable...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Global Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted essential health services globally, including routine childhood immunizations.
• Limited data exists on immunization impacts in Latin America, with no prior reports from Ecuador.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the reduction in routine infant immunizations in Ecuador during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.
• To analyze the impact on coverage for specific vaccines and identify vulnerable regions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of immunization data from Ecuador's Ministry of Health for 2018, 2019, and 2020.
• Descriptive comparison of vaccine doses and coverage for rotavirus (ROTA), poliovirus (PV), pneumococcal (PCV), and pentavalent (PENTA) vaccines.
• Spatial analysis to identify regional disparities in vaccination coverage.

Main Results:

• A significant decrease of 137,000 vaccine doses was observed in 2020 compared to pre-pandemic levels (2018-2019).
• Coverage reductions were most significant for pentavalent (PENTA) vaccine (17.7%), followed by poliovirus (PV) (16.4%), rotavirus (ROTA) (12%), and pneumococcal (PCV) (10.7%).
• Spatial analysis revealed a severe impact on vaccination coverage in Ecuador's Coast and Highland regions.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted infant immunization programs in Ecuador.
• Urgent strategies are needed to protect vulnerable populations and regions during public health emergencies to prevent backsliding in immunization coverage.