The indirect effects of COVID-19 upon global childhood pneumonia

OBJECTIVES: The relative scarcity of paediatric COVID-19 disease infers protection from its direct harms. We aim to highlight the potentially severe indirect effects of COVID-19 upon global childhood pneumonia. STUDY DESIGN: This is a discussion piece written from the authors’ perspective. METHODS: We use the social determinants of health to describe the indirect impact of COVID-19 upon global childhood pneumonia. RESULTS: The social determinants of health are a range of social, economic, and environmental factors used to explore and explain global health differences and inequalities. Global childhood pneumonia is a significant public health problem with clear linkage to the social determinants of health. COVID-19 is a significant threat to the health and wellbeing of children around the world through its potentially severe effects on all strata of the social determinants of health. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic could undermine years of progress in reducing both global childhood pneumonia incidence and mortality, and most significantly affect vulnerable children living in poverty.