Protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases before the borders reopen

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In print

VACCINES

Protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases before the borders reopen

Mary Nowlan

Tuesday 13 July 2021, 04:46 PM

Vaccine coverage at 24 months by ethnicity

With borders closed and pandemic control measures implemented, vaccinepreventable and respiratory disease incidence has declined significantly in New Zealand, but routine immunisations have faltered. What will happen when borders fully open again?

Key Points, COVID-19 restrictions have reduced the incidence of a range of respiratory diseases. Our youngest children have little experience of many respirator, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Vaccines

COVID-19

Immunology

References

ESR. 2020 Annual Influenza Summary. https://surv.esr.cri.nz/virology/influenza_annual_report.php

Trenholme A, Webb R, Lawrence S, et al. COVID-19 and infant hospitalizations for seasonal respiratory virus infections, New Zealand, 2020. Emerg Infect Dis 2021;27(2):641.

Brueggemann AB, Jansen van Rensburg MJ, Shaw D, et al. Changes in the incidence of invasive disease due to Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis during the COVID-19 pandemic in 26 countries and territories in the Invasive Respiratory Infection Surveillance Initiative: a prospective analysis of surveillance data. Lancet Digit Health 2021;3(6):e360–70.

Chiappini E, Parigi S, Galli L, et al. Impact that the COVID-19 pandemic on routine childhood vaccinations and challenges ahead: A narrative review. Acta Paediatr 2021; 24 May online.

Lassi ZS, Naseem R, Salam RA, et al. The impact of the covid-19 pandemic on immunization campaigns and programs: A systematic review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021;18(3):988.

Nuzhath T, Ajayi KV, Fan Q, et al. Childhood immunization during the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas. Vaccine 2021;39(25):3333–37.

Bello IM, Lebo E, Shibeshi ME, et al. Implementation of integrated supportive supervision in the context of coronavirus 19 pandemic: its effects on routine immunization and vaccine preventable surveillance diseases indicators in the East and Southern African countries. Pan Afr Med J 2021;38:164.

WHO. Immunization dashboard. https://immunizationdata.who.int/

Polio Global Eradication Initiative. Polio Now. https://polioeradication.org/polio-today/polio-now/

Cohen R, Ashman M, Taha MK, et al. Pediatric Infectious Disease Group (GPIP) position paper on the immune debt of the COVID-19 pandemic in childhood, how can we fill the immunity gap? Infect Dis Now 2021; 12 May online.

Practice archive

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Polypharmacy

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM