Recovering vaccine coverage lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic()

The 2019 coronavirus disease pandemic can have an alarming impact on vaccination coverage. WHO, UNICEF and Gavi warn that at least 80 million children under the age of 1 are at risk of contracting diseases such as diphtheria, measles and polio due to the interruption of routine immunization and the temporary suspension of 93 campaigns of large-scale vaccination. In Spain, a new healthcare scenario, which prioritizes telematics over in person, fear of contagion by going to health centers, and recommendations for physical distance and restricted mobility, reduce attendance at primary care centers. Despite recommendations established by the health authorities, vaccination coverage has decreased in all Autonomous Communities between 5% and 60%, depending on the age and type of vaccine. School vaccinations have been suspended and only vaccination of pregnant women against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis has been maintained. The decrease has been more evident for non gratuity vaccines: the first dose of meningococcal vaccine B has decreased by 68.4%in the Valencian Community, and Andalusia has observed a 39% decrease in the total doses of this vaccine and of 18% for that of rotavirus. The recovering of vaccinations should be planned, organized and carried out in the shortest possible time. This article discusses some aspects of the recovery of vaccination coverage for different groups: children, adolescents and adults, and patients at risk and in special situations.