Physical distancing restrictions introduced as part of the response against the COVID-19 pandemic have limited access to medical services. Early reports suggest that childhood vaccination rates are lower during these restrictions. Infants that miss or delay their vaccines are at increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases (such as measles and polio) and the reduced herd immunity can lead to new outbreaks of these diseases.

We need to know how many infants missed their vaccines, so we can plan for catch-up programs and minimize effects of future COVID-19 waves and vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.

We will examine this by comparing infant vaccinations before and during the pandemic. We will measure the drop in vaccinations, both for all vaccines combined as well as for individual vaccines (e.g. the measles vaccine). We will determine whether these infants catch up on missed vaccines in the short term (within six months) to minimize their risk.

This information will help build the response to COVID-19 and prevent further harm from the pandemic.