Background <p>The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions to health services, including routine vaccination programs, affecting the uptake and timeliness of childhood vaccinations. This study explored the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine vaccination coverage among children living in Armenia by examining full vaccination coverage a few years before and after the initial COVID-19 wave.</p> Methods <p>A quasi-experimental research design that included a single cohort interrupted time series analysis was used to assess full vaccination coverage among children ages one, two, and six years old based on monthly data from January 2019 through December 2023. ARIMA models were utilized to understand changes in routine vaccination coverage after the initial lockdown as well as the recovery levels among the different the age groups.</p> Results <p>An initial decrease in full vaccination coverage among one-year-olds (from 91.44% in January 2020 to 88.53% in January 2021) was observed. Similarly, coverage for two- and six-year-olds decreased from 91.55% to 89.04% and from 96.07% to 94.26%, respectively. Coverage rose to 92.04% for one-year-olds, 90.99% for two-year-olds, and 93.05% for six-year-olds by December 2023. The ARIMA models showed significant changes in vaccination coverage after the initial lockdown period, particularly among children two and six years old, with recovery levels differing among age groups.</p> Conclusions <p>Despite signs of recovery, routine vaccination coverage remained lower than before the pandemic for children two and six years old. The interventions by the Ministry of Health and National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may have helped recover some lost vaccination levels. Yet, there remain ongoing challenges to routine vaccinations. This study highlights the importance of assessing coverage and timeliness of routine vaccinations and the need for targeted strategies to address lapses in vaccinations, particularly among older children, in Armenia.</p>

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The prolonged impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine childhood vaccinations in Armenia: a time-series analysis

  • Anya Agopian,
  • Tamara Sedrakyan,
  • Diana Muradyan,
  • Gayane Sahakyan

摘要

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic caused disruptions to health services, including routine vaccination programs, affecting the uptake and timeliness of childhood vaccinations. This study explored the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine vaccination coverage among children living in Armenia by examining full vaccination coverage a few years before and after the initial COVID-19 wave.

Methods

A quasi-experimental research design that included a single cohort interrupted time series analysis was used to assess full vaccination coverage among children ages one, two, and six years old based on monthly data from January 2019 through December 2023. ARIMA models were utilized to understand changes in routine vaccination coverage after the initial lockdown as well as the recovery levels among the different the age groups.

Results

An initial decrease in full vaccination coverage among one-year-olds (from 91.44% in January 2020 to 88.53% in January 2021) was observed. Similarly, coverage for two- and six-year-olds decreased from 91.55% to 89.04% and from 96.07% to 94.26%, respectively. Coverage rose to 92.04% for one-year-olds, 90.99% for two-year-olds, and 93.05% for six-year-olds by December 2023. The ARIMA models showed significant changes in vaccination coverage after the initial lockdown period, particularly among children two and six years old, with recovery levels differing among age groups.

Conclusions

Despite signs of recovery, routine vaccination coverage remained lower than before the pandemic for children two and six years old. The interventions by the Ministry of Health and National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may have helped recover some lost vaccination levels. Yet, there remain ongoing challenges to routine vaccinations. This study highlights the importance of assessing coverage and timeliness of routine vaccinations and the need for targeted strategies to address lapses in vaccinations, particularly among older children, in Armenia.