Western Pacific Regional guide for the immunization programme and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic

Overview

The COVID-19 pandemic is posing an unprecedented challenge to health systems globally, with serious implications for immunization services. Routine immunizations, supplementary immunization activities and the surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases are being impacted in many countries due to the pandemic. The decline in routine immunizations and an impaired surveillance system may well lead to the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases. This regional guide aims to provide technical directions for better planning, preparedness and implementation of dynamic immunization strategies and activities under either low- or high-transmission status of the pandemic to revitalize the immunization and surveillance activities.