Pandemics, epidemics and inequities in routine childhood vaccination coverage: a rapid review

Nick Spencer; Rita Nathawad; Emmanuele Arpin; Samantha Johnson

doi:10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000842

Pandemics, epidemics and inequities in routine childhood vaccination coverage: a rapid review

BMJ Paediatr Open. 2020 Nov 2;4(1):e000842. doi: 10.1136/bmjpo-2020-000842. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Nick Spencer¹, Rita Nathawad², Emmanuele Arpin³, Samantha Johnson⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Mental Health and Wellbeing, University of Warwick, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK.
² Pediatrics, University of Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
³ Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ University of Warwick Library, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.

Abstract

Inequity in routine childhood vaccination coverage is well researched. Pandemics disrupt infrastructure and divert health resources from preventive care, including vaccination programmes, leading to increased vaccine preventable morbidity and mortality. COVID-19 control measures have resulted in coverage reductions. We conducted a rapid review of the impact of pandemics on existing inequities in routine vaccination coverage. PICO search framework: Population: children 0-18 years; Intervention/exposure: pandemic/epidemic; Comparison: inequality; Outcome: routine vaccination coverage. The review demonstrates a gap in the literature as none of the 29 papers selected for full-paper review from 1973 abstracts identified from searches met the inclusion criteria.

Keywords: epidemiology; health services research.