Opinion Why parents must ensure children catch up on vaccination schedules post Covid lag
Missed doses of vaccination can put children at risk of preventable diseases
The government's Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) covers vaccination for diseases such as tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, measles, rubella, hepatitis B, meningitis, and pneumonia. (Express photo/File) 
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The immune system of children under the age of five years is at an important stage of development. This is the time when they are exposed to thousands of germs every day, through the food they eat, the toys they play with, or the environment in which they grow up. While this kind of exposure cannot be prevented, childhood vaccinations can boost their immune systems and protect them from infections. The government’s Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) covers vaccination for diseases such as tuberculosis, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough (pertussis), tetanus, measles, rubella, hepatitis B, meningitis, and pneumonia.
The Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP) recommends additional vaccinations against chickenpox, hepatitis A, typhoid, flu, and rotavirus infections. All doses of vaccination are required to build full immunity. However, not all parents get their children these vaccinations or end up delaying the first and second doses. The data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5 supports this observation. In Maharashtra, for instance, between 2019 and 2021, 95 per cent of children were partially vaccinated, but only 74 per cent received all the recommended vaccinations. The Covid pandemic also disrupted vaccination schedules and led to children missing their vaccination doses. It is estimated that over three million children in India missed their DPT dose in 2020, which protects against diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus.
When children miss a dose of vaccination, they become more vulnerable to the infection and its complications. They can also infect younger children who are not fully vaccinated. This can lead to outbreaks of infections which can be dangerous. Last year, in 2022, Maharashtra witnessed an outbreak of measles from October to December. Most cases were reported from Mumbai. This outbreak happened because 1.74 lakh children below the age of five years in the state had missed a dose of measles vaccination till September 2022. Outbreaks of other diseases such as flu and hepatitis A have been observed in different states because of missed doses of vaccination. The recent rise in flu infections caused by the H3N2 flu subtype also disproportionately affected children below the age of five years because of their weak immunity. Infections such as the flu can put these children at severe risk of hospitalisation.
These outbreaks not only disrupt the education of children but also put a burden on the public health system. Vaccine-preventable infections can affect a child’s development milestones. Vaccination has proven to be one of the most successful and effective ways to control infections, prevent epidemics, eliminate diseases, and reduce the economic burden on families and healthcare systems. In the last week of April, the WHO observed World Immunisation Week 2023 whose theme was ‘The Big Catch-up’. It wanted to bring the immunisation of all children on track and make up for doses they had missed during the last two years.
There are several resources and reminder systems available both in public and private hospitals for parents to keep track of their children’s immunisation schedules. Completing the full immunisation schedule holds the promise of a healthy and happy childhood, which further ensures that children grow into healthy adults. Full immunisation of all children is a national priority for India and the support of parents is critical to make it a reality. We want to urge all parents to ensure their child’s vaccination card is up to date as recommended by their paediatrician. Even if vaccinations are missed, catchup vaccination as advised by paediatricians can help fill the immunity gap.
The writer is medical director, GSK
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