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Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptions in essential health services globally. We surveyed Indian paediatric providers on their perceptions of the impact of the pandemic on routine vaccination. Among 424 (survey 1) and 141 (survey 2) respondents representing 26 of 36 Indian states and union territories, complete suspension of vaccination services was reported by 33.4% and 7.8%, respectively. In April–June 2020, 83.1% perceived that vaccination services dropped by half, followed by 32.6% in September 2020, indicating slow resumption of services. Concerns that vaccine coverage gaps can lead to mortality were expressed by 76.6%. Concerted multipronged efforts are needed to sustain gains in vaccination coverage.
- COVID-19
- data collection
- epidemiology
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Introduction: Essential health services, including routine childhood immunisations, have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.1 2 The nationwide lockdown in India, which was implemented on 24 March 2020, possibly slowed the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and averted deaths due to COVID-19.3 However the lockdown also resulted in severe movement restrictions and was associated with disruptions in healthcare service provision and health-seeking activities.4 In order to study how COVID-19 control measures may have impacted routine vaccination during this period, we surveyed paediatric healthcare providers in India at two timepoints, during and after the lockdown. The survey assessed the degree of disruption to vaccination services, explored barriers to healthcare provision and identified innovative ways to regain losses in vaccination coverage.
Methods: The surveys were jointly developed by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics. Survey 1 (April–June 2020) and survey 2 (September 2020) (online supplemental appendix 1) were launched virtually using Qualtrics and distributed to a network of paediatricians and other care providers. Surveys were anonymous, and distribution took place via email, text messages, telephone, in person and social media platforms such as WhatsApp. Results represented paediatricians’ perceptions about vaccination services and were analysed using Stata V.15.1.
Supplemental material
Results: Survey 1 and survey 2 recorded 424 and 141 responses, respectively, representing 21 Indian states. Majority of the respondents (96.0% and 92.9%, respectively) were paediatricians who worked in predominantly urban and private healthcare centres (table 1). Complete or partial suspension of immunisation services at their respective centres was perceived by 33.4% (142 of 424) of respondents. In survey 1 (April–June 2020), vaccination services dropped by over half in 83.1%, followed by 32.6% in survey 2 (September 2020). Interruption of vaccine campaigns for measles, rubella and polio was reported by 37.7% (160 of 424). Only 38.7% (164 of 424) of the respondents reported having a plan for catch-up vaccination once these restrictions were eased.
Survey respondents’ characteristics and perceptions around routine vaccination in the context of COVID-19, April–June 2020 (survey 1) and September 2020 (survey 2)
Notable supply-side (healthcare availability) barriers included low availability of healthcare workers, financial constraints and limited supplies such as personal protective equipment (figure 1). Barriers to caregiver vaccine uptake included low awareness of service availability, transportation limitations, fear of contracting COVID-19 from clinical settings and financial constraints (table 1). While 61.7% (87 of 141) of the respondents were aware of guidelines on safe provision of vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, 42.5% (60 of 141) were unaware of national vaccination catch-up programmes. Perceptions that lockdown consequences would result in a vaccine coverage gap persisted in 76.6% of the respondents. Reported suggestions for catch-up vaccinations included special campaigns, localised communications, door-to-door outreach campaigns, text messaging of immunisation campaigns, and implementing affordable or free immunisation visits.
Reported supply-side barriers to routine immunisation services, survey 2 (September 2020).
Discussion: Paediatricians and primary care providers in India indicated that substantial vaccination service disruptions were ongoing in 2020 and expressed concerns about the long-lasting impact of pandemic-related health access barriers. This study was limited by a small sample size and potential selection bias. The high proportion of private practitioners in the survey is not representative of national immunisation coverage, which is predominantly offered by the public health sector in India.5 Nevertheless, a majority of Indian states were represented, and early recovery of disruptions seen in the private sector would be reflected in the public sector as well. Similar reports from global surveys indicated substantial disruptions of vaccination services in many countries.6 While India has made tremendous progress in reducing vaccination inequities in recent years,7 these gains are now at risk of backsliding as a result of pandemic-related disruptions. The way forward should include an increased focus on catch-up campaigns, strong government engagement, effective surveillance and clear public health messaging, as these are critical to restoring immunisation and essential services for women and children.
Ethics statements
Ethics approval
This study was approved by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Institutional Review Board (IRB) under IRB submission number 12405. The IRB determined that proposed activities were ‘key informant research’ as opposed to ‘human subjects research’ and determined that the study did not require IRB oversight.
Supplementary materials
Supplementary Data
This web only file has been produced by the BMJ Publishing Group from an electronic file supplied by the author(s) and has not been edited for content.
Footnotes
Contributors AS, BD and DS conceived the study with contributions from BP, GVB and PG. BP, PB and ADL developed the study instruments and planned and conducted the study. PB, BD and KC managed the data and conducted analysis of the data. CB and RS, along with DS, BP, GVB and PG, provided critical review of the instruments and conducted pilot testing. AS, BD and PB prepared the first draft of the manuscript. All authors reviewed the drafts of this manuscript and approved the final version for submission.
Funding This work was supported by the Johns Hopkins Maternal and Child Health Center, India, and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient and public involvement statement This was a survey of professionals and no patients were involved.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.