Guiding principles for immunization activities

during the COVID-19 pandemic

**As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, this document and accompanying

Due to the global circulation of the virus causing COVID-19 and the current pandemic, there is risk of disruption to
routine immunization activities due to both COVID-19 related burden on the health system and decreased demand for
vaccination because of physical distancing requirements or community reluctance. Disruption of immunization
services, even for brief periods, will result in increased numbers of susceptible individuals and raise the likelihood of
outbreak-prone vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) such as measles.1 Such VPD outbreaks may result in increased
morbidity and mortality predominantly in young infants and other vulnerable groups, which can cause greater burden
on health systems already strained by the COVID-19 response. The high potential for VPD outbreaks makes it
imperative for countries to maintain continuity of immunization services wherever services can be conducted under
safe conditions. Prior disease outbreaks and humanitarian emergencies have underscored the importance of
maintaining essential health services such as immunization, and effectively engaging communities in planning and
service delivery. 2,3 Yet the complexity and global reach of the COVID-19 response with respect to mandatory physical
distancing (also referred to as social distancing) and economic impact on households is unprecedented for public
health.

This document provides guiding principles and considerations to support countries in their decision-making
regarding provision of immunization services during the COVID-19 pandemic and is endorsed by the WHO’s Strategic
Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization. It is complemented by a range of WHO technical materials on response
and mitigation measures for COVID-19.4 Each country will need to make individual risk assessments based on the
local dynamics of COVID-19 transmission, immunization and health system characteristics, and current
VPD epidemiology in their setting.

1
Suk et al. Post-Ebola Measles Outbreak in Lola,Guinea, January–June 2015. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2016; 22(6):1106-1108.
2
http://www.jogh.org/documents/issue201802/jogh-08-020601.htm
3
Vaccination in Acute Humanitarian Emergencies: A Framework for decision-making
https://www.who.int/immunization/documents/who_ivb_17.03/en/
4
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance
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Guiding Principles

1. Immunization is a core health service that should be prioritized for the prevention of communicable diseases and
safeguarded for continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic, where feasible.5 Immunization delivery strategies may
need to be adapted and should be conducted under safe conditions, without undue harm to health workers,
caregivers and the community.6
2. VPD surveillance should be maintained and reinforced to enable early detection and management of VPD cases,
and where feasible, contribute to surveillance of COVID-19.
3. National authorities will need to continuously monitor the dynamics of COVID-19 in their country or region.
National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) have an important role in providing advice with
respect to the maintenance, adaptation, suspension and/or reinstatement of immunization services.
4. If provision of immunization services is negatively impacted by COVID-19, countries will need to design strategies
for catch-up vaccination for the period post COVID-19 outbreak and make plans which anticipate a gradual
recovery. Implementation of catch-up will require strategies to track and follow-up with individuals who missed
vaccinations, assess immunity gaps, and re-establish community demand. Innovation and creativity will be
required.
5. Based on the current understanding of transmission of the COVID-19 virus and recommendations for physical
distancing, mass vaccination campaigns should be temporarily suspended. Countries should monitor and
re-evaluate at regular intervals the necessity for delaying mass vaccination campaigns.
6. The conduct of outbreak response mass vaccination campaigns will require a careful risk-benefit analysis on a
case-by-case basis, assessing risks of a delayed response against the risks associated with an immediate response,
both in terms of morbidity and mortality for the VPD and the potential impact of further transmission of the
COVID-19 virus.
7. Where feasible, influenza vaccination of health workers, older adults, and pregnant women is advised. 7

Considerations for Routine Immunization and VPD Surveillance

 The decision to maintain immunization services will be influenced by local mandates for physical distancing and
guided by health system context, the local burden of VPDs, the status and anticipated status of local COVID-19
transmission (classified as no cases, sporadic, clusters, or community transmission), and factors such as population
demographics and migration patterns.
 Where health system capacity is intact and essential health services are operational (e.g., adequate human
resources, adequate vaccine supply), fixed site immunization services and VPD surveillance should be executed
while maintaining physical distancing measures and appropriate infection control precautions, equipped with the
necessary supplies for those precautions.8
 The appropriateness of implementing alternative strategies (e.g. outreach or mobile services), as well as activities
requiring community interaction for VPD surveillance, must be assessed in the local context and should be adapted
to ensure the safety of the health workers and community. Innovative methods for vaccination delivery should
be explored to optimize service delivery.

5
COVID-19: Strategic Planning and Operational Guidance for Maintaining Essential Health Services During an Outbreak. 20 March 2020.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance
6
https://www.who.int/publications-detail/infection-prevention-and-control-during-health-care-when-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-is-suspected-20200125
7
WER, 23 November 2012, 23 No. 47, 2012, 87, 461–476 https://www.who.int/wer/2012/wer8747.pdf?ua=1
8
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/technical-guidance/infection-prevention-and-control
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  Where the provision of limited services is feasible, immunization of vulnerable populations at increased risk of
morbidity and mortality due to VPDs should be prioritized for vaccination against outbreak-prone diseases such
as measles, polio, diphtheria and yellow fever.

Considerations for Mass Vaccination Campaigns

 Based on the current understanding of the transmission modes of the COVID-19 virus and the recommended
prevention measures of physical distancing, it is advised to temporarily suspend the conduct of mass vaccination
campaigns due to the increased risk of promoting community circulation. Countries should monitor and
re-evaluate at regular intervals the necessity for the delay of mass vaccination campaigns.
 Under circumstances of a VPD outbreak, the decision to conduct outbreak response mass vaccination campaigns
will require a risk-benefit assessment on a case by case basis and must factor in the health system’s capacity to
effectively conduct a safe and high-quality mass campaign in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The
assessment should evaluate the risks of a delayed response against the risks associated with an immediate
response, both in terms of morbidity and mortality for the VPD and the potential impact of further transmission
of the COVID-19 virus.
 Should an outbreak response vaccination campaign be pursued, stringent measures are required to
uphold standard and COVID-19 infection prevention and control, adequately handle injection waste,
protect health workers and safeguard the public.
 Should an outbreak response vaccination campaign be delayed, a periodic assessment based on local
VPD morbidity and mortality, as well as regional and international epidemiology will be required to
evaluate risk of further delay.

Consideration for Re-establishing Immunization Services

 In circumstances where immunization services must be diminished or suspended, countries should reinstate and
reinvigorate immunization services at the earliest opportunity to close immunity gaps, once reduced local
transmission of the COVID-19 virus permits primary health care services to resume.
 If resources for catch-up are limited, catch-up immunization activities should place priority on outbreak-prone
VPDs such as measles, polio, diphtheria, and yellow fever.
 Countries should implement effective communication strategies and engage with communities to allay concerns,
enhance community linkages and re-establish community demand for vaccination.

© World Health Organization 2020. Some rights reserved. This work is available under the CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO licence.

WHO reference number: WHO/2019-nCoV/immunization_services/2020.1

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