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UrduTwo Rutgers New Jersey Medical School pediatricians, Joseph Schwab, an associate professor of pediatrics, and Hanan A. Tanuos, director of primary care and an associate professor of pediatrics, discuss how parents can help keep up to date with vaccinations during the coronavirus crisis.
How have the COVID-19 lockdowns affected vaccination rates in children?
Although it’s difficult to get real-time numbers, anecdotally, immunization rates are down as we’ve heard of many practices canceling or postponing visits for vaccinations. We’re hoping the New Jersey Immunization Information System (NJIIS) and state Department of Health can share any compiled data they may have soon.
How vital are scheduled vaccinations for children, even during a pandemic?
As the cornerstone of public health practice, routine immunizations protect children against important vaccine-preventable diseases. Anything that lowers immunization rates in a community has the potential not only to leave individual patients at risk but also to set the stage for transmission and a local outbreak or wider epidemic.
This could add to the burden of an already overtaxed health care system trying to provide care during a pandemic. This is why we’re advocating for maintaining high immunization rates, especially among children, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What happens if children aren’t vaccinated, and what role will it play in the fall/winter seasons and the potential second wave of COVID-19 cases in the coming months?
What we fear is increased disease. For example, we’ve recently had outbreaks of measles in nearby communities, and without immunization, these kinds of outbreaks could become more common. Also, as fewer people get immunized against a disease like Pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, we could see more cases of this potentially devastating illness among our youngest patients.
Additionally, even with typical immunization coverage every year, the flu has still resulted in vast numbers of patients of all ages who need emergency and inpatient care, including ICU care. Adding this burden to a potential second wave of COVID-19 cases could result in scenarios worse than what we’ve seen with the first wave of the disease, depending on infection rates.
What can parents do to ensure children are vaccinated during this pandemic?
Parents should be aware of the recommended immunization schedule and their child’s immunization status. They should contact their primary care providers to schedule routine immunization visits at recommended and safe times.
How are doctors helping to rectify this problem?
The American Academy of Pediatrics is encouraging routine immunization for all children during this pandemic. Unfortunately, we know of many providers and even some local health departments having to close their offices because of a lack of staff or fear of COVID-19 infection.
Parents are also fearful of bringing their children to the doctor’s office at this time. There is the added burden of insurance restrictions that allow only a patient’s listed primary care provider to get reimbursed for providing an immunization.
Work needs to be done to make immunizations available and easily accessible now and to provide education to families, encouraging them to seek vaccines for their children and assuring them that measures will be taken to ensure patient safety.
The COVID-19 crisis is a rapidly evolving situation, and there needs to be ongoing communication between health providers, public health officials, insurers and families.
We need to be open to new strategies to streamline the delivery of vaccines practically and acceptably to all parties involved. We should prioritize patients whose vaccines are delayed and utilize strategies such as vaccine-only visits to allow more patients to be protected as quickly as possible.
Original post https://alertarticles.info
