Thread by @WHO

WHO, @gavi & @UNICEF issue joint warning today that at least 80M children under 1 are at risk of diseases like diphtheria, measles & polio, as #COVID19 disrupts routine vaccination efforts.👉 bit.ly/3bOuOg8 #HealthForAll

This stark warning precedes the Global Vaccine Summit on 4 Jun 2020, at which world leaders will come together to help maintain immunization programmes & mitigate the impact of #COVID19 in lower-income countries. 👉 bit.ly/3bOuOg8 #HealthForAll

According to data collected by WHO, @UNICEF, @gavi & @sabinvaccine, provision of routine immunization services is substantially hindered in at least 68 countries, likely to affect approximately 80M children under the age of 1. 👉 bit.ly/3bOuOg8

Since March 2020, routine childhood immunization services have been disrupted on a global scale. Over 50% of the 129 countries, where data were available, reported moderate-to-severe disruptions, or a total suspension of vaccination services in Mar-Apr. 👉 bit.ly/3bOuOg8

Many countries have temporarily suspended preventive mass vaccination campaigns against diseases like cholera, measles, meningitis, polio, tetanus, typhoid & yellow fever, due to transmission risk & need to maintain physical distancing during early stages of #COVID19 pandemic.

In March 2020, WHO recommended temporary suspension of preventive campaigns while assessing risk & effective measures for reducing #COVID19 transmission.

WHO has now issued guidance to help countries determine how/when to resume mass campaigns: bit.ly/3ghfEDp

The new guidance recommends countries make specific risk assessments based on:
-local dynamics of #COVID19 transmission
-health system capacities
-public health benefit of conducting preventive & outbreak response vaccination campaigns

bit.ly/3ghfEDp