Recovering essential immunization and integrating COVID-19 vaccination into primary health care
Technical Brief
12 May 2023
| Technical document
Overview
The COVID-19 pandemic initiated the fastest and most complex global vaccine rollout ever, but caused unprecedented backsliding in immunization against other life-threatening diseases. Mass COVID-19 vaccination campaigns rapidly reach targeted populations, resulting in vaccine delivery and monitoring innovations and investments that can strengthen health systems. However, in many countries, the rapid deployment of COVID-19 vaccination came at a high price: health workers and programmatic resources were diverted from other services, notably immunization programmes, resulting in increases in outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases. Recovering essential immunization programmes and sustainably integrating COVID-19 vaccination into primary health care (PHC) and other health services for high-risk groups is crucial.
WHO Team
UHC/Life Course EXDGO (UHA)
Editors
World Health Organization
Number of pages
4