How the COVID-19 pandemic affected routine child vaccination: an integrative review

Child immunization plays a critical role in preventing numerous diseases. However, the COVID-19) pandemic has profoundly disrupted healthcare systems globally, including routine child vaccination programs.

To provide an overview of the reduction in vaccine coverage among infants and children during the pandemic and analyze the potential impacts of decreased child immunization during this period.

A comprehensive search was conducted using the MeSH terms "Child," "Vaccination", and "COVID-19," along with their synonyms. Systematic reviews published between March 11, 2020, and June 1, 2023, in Portuguese or English were included. Databases searched included PubMed, BVS (Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde), Embase, and Scopus. Two blinded independent reviewers performed the selection process, with conflicts resolved by a third reviewer. The AMSTAR-II tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies.

Of the 1,534 eligible articles, only 13 addressed the pandemic's impact on children's vaccination coverage. Most studies involved multiple countries and reported a significant decrease in children's vaccination coverage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The findings were heterogeneous but consistently highlighted the substantial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine vaccination coverage in most countries. Further research is needed to explore the epidemiological consequences of disruptions to vaccination schedules, potentially guiding public policies and raising awareness about the importance of adhering to health protection programs.