Health Effects of Covid-19 Related Immunisation Disruptions

• 27 Mar 2024

For Prelims: Covid-19 pandemic, Measles, Rubella, HPV (Human Papillomavirus), Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTP) vaccine.

For Mains: Health effects of Covid-19 Related Immunization Disruptions, Government Policies & Interventions.

Source: DTE

Why in News?

Recently, a new paper has been published in the journal The Lancet Global Health titled- Estimating the Health Effects of Covid-19-Related Immunization Disruptions in 112 Countries During 2020–30: A Modelling Study, which highlights that Global immunization declined during the Covid-19 pandemic, increasing disease burden and outbreak risk.

What are the Key Highlights of the Report?

• Global Immunisation Decline:
  • The Covid-19 pandemic led to a decline in global immunisation coverage, which increased disease burden and outbreak risks across various countries.
  • It is estimated that disruptions to Measles, Rubella, HPV (Human Papillomavirus), Hepatitis B, meningitis A, and yellow fever vaccination could lead to approximately 49,119 additional deaths during the calendar years 2020–2030, with measles being the main contributor to this increase in mortality.
    • For the years 2020–2030, disruptions in vaccination coverage across all 14 pathogens could result in a 2.66% reduction in the long-term effect, translating to a decrease in the number of deaths averted from 37,378,194 to 36,410,559.
• Importance of Catch-Up Vaccines:
  • The importance of catch-up vaccines is emphasised, particularly for diseases like measles and yellow fever, which experienced an immediate increase in burden post-pandemic.
  • Catch-up activities were found to be effective in averting excess deaths, with the potential to prevent approximately 79% of excess deaths related to measles, rubella, HPV, hepatitis B, and yellow fever.
• Impact on DTP Vaccine Coverage:
  • The pandemic impacted coverage for the Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTP) vaccines, resulting in an additional 6 million children missing out on vaccination in 2021 globally.
• Resurgence of Measles Cases:
  • There has been a resurgence of measles cases reported in several countries, including those where measles was previously considered eradicated, such as the United Kingdom and the United States.
    • In 2021, nearly 61 million measles vaccine doses were postponed or missed due to Covid-19-related delays in immunisation campaigns in 18 countries.
    • Furthermore, in 2022, there was an increase in measles cases and deaths globally compared to 2021 levels, with millions of children missing their vaccine doses, particularly in countries like Nigeria, Pakistan, and India.
• Recommendations:
  • Effectiveness of Catch-Up Activities: The study suggested that implementing catch-up vaccination activities could potentially avert 78.9% of excess deaths between calendar years 2023 and 2030.
    • This means that proactive catch-up efforts have the potential to significantly mitigate the adverse impacts of vaccine-coverage disruptions.
  • Importance of Timing and Targeting of Catch-Up Activities: It is important for timely implementation of catch-up vaccination activities, tailored to specific cohorts and regions most affected by disruptions.
    • This targeted approach can help improve vaccine coverage and mitigate the adverse effects of under-immunization.
  • Significance of Continued Immunisation Efforts: Continued importance of sustained immunization efforts, particularly for vaccines like HPV is important, which play a crucial role in preventing cervical cancer.
    • This underscores the necessity of ongoing vaccination campaigns even amidst disruptions to ensure long-term public health benefits.

What are the Major Initiatives Related to Immunisation?

• Global:
  • Immunisation Agenda 2030 (IA2030): It sets an ambitious, overarching global vision and strategy for vaccines and immunisation for the decade 2021–2030.
    • By the end of the decade, IA2030 aims to:
      • Reduce by 50% the number of children receiving zero vaccine doses
      • Achieve 500 introductions of new or under-utilised vaccines in low- and middle-income countries
      • Achieve 90% coverage for essential childhood vaccines
  • World Immunisation Week: It is celebrated every year in the last week of April.
  • Big Catch-Up Initiative: It was launched by the WHO, UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation along with Immunization Agenda 2030 and many other global and national health partners, a targeted global effort to boost vaccination among children following declines driven by the Covid-19 pandemic.
• Indian:
  • Universal Immunization Programme (UIP):
    • The program provides free immunization against 12 vaccine-preventable diseases.
    • Nationally Against 9 Diseases: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Rubella, severe form of Childhood Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and Meningitis & Pneumonia caused by Haemophilus influenza type B
    • Sub-nationally Against 3 Diseases: Rotavirus diarrhoea, Pneumococcal Pneumonia and Japanese Encephalitis
    • Two major milestones of the UIP have been the eradication of polio in 2014 and the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2015.
  • Mission Indradhanush:
    • Mission Indradhanush (MI) was launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) in 2014 to vaccinate all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children under UIP.
      • It is being implemented in several phases.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Prelims:

Q1. Consider the following statements:

1. Adenoviruses have single-stranded DNA genomes whereas retroviruses have double-stranded DNA genomes.
2. Common cold is sometimes caused by an adenovirus whereas AIDS is caused by a retrovirus.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (b)

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Mains:

Q. Critically examine the role of WHO in providing global health security during the Covid-19 pandemic. (2020)