Routine Pediatric Vaccination in Pakistan During COVID-19: How Can Healthcare Professionals Help?

Frontiers in Pediatrics

article

Amjad Khan¹  Asima Bibi¹  Khanzada Sheraz Khan¹  Ayesha Raza Butt¹  Hira Amin Alvi¹  Ada Zahra Naqvi¹  Saima Mushtaq²  Yusra Habib Khan³  Nafees Ahmad⁴ 

[1] Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University;Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology;Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University;Department of Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of Balochistan

关键词: COVID-19;    healthcare professionals;    immunization;    Pakistan;    vaccination;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fped.2020.613433

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Pakistan is still fighting to overcome vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD). The vaccination coverage in rural children remains unsatisfactory amid various barriers including price, hesitancy, and low level of awareness. COVID-19 has decreased the immunization rate in Pakistan due to restricted movements, shortage of vaccines, and low coverage. During the current pandemic, there are high risks that children may get VPD resulting in another infectious disease catastrophe. There is a dire need to put aggressive measures by the government of Pakistan in time to ensure the optimal vaccine coverage. Public education programs for immunization, telehealth services, the involvement of community pharmacies, and the drive-through vaccination system may help to enhance the vaccination rate during the ongoing health crisis.

【 授权许可】

CC BY