Value of Immunizations during the COVID-19 Emergency

Armando Stefanati, Erica d’Anchera, Francesco De Motoli, Marta Savio, Maria Vittoria Toffoletto and Giovanni Gabutti
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Armando Stefanati: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Erica d’Anchera: Department of Medical Sciences, Postgraduate School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Francesco De Motoli: Department of Medical Sciences, Postgraduate School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Marta Savio: Department of Medical Sciences, Postgraduate School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Maria Vittoria Toffoletto: Department of Medical Sciences, Postgraduate School of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Giovanni Gabutti: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-10

Abstract: Recent estimates by World Health Organization (WHO, Geneva, Switzerland) and United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) show a significant decline in vaccinal coverage rates in both pediatric and adult populations. The interruption of vaccination services is reported in at least 68 countries, with the involvement of about 80 million children worldwide. The situation is alarming if we consider that already in the period preceding the pandemic, immunization programs slowed down in various areas of the world. For these reasons, there is the risk of overloading health systems, already under pressure from the pandemic emergency, by employing human and economic resources for the management of epidemic outbreaks from vaccine-preventable diseases. The restoration and integration of vaccination services, the immunization of susceptible individuals as well as the adoption of adequate monitoring and surveillance measures are the main activities adopted by different countries to address the current global health emergency.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; vaccines; immunization; public health; health policies; preventive strategies; infectious diseases; one health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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