Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the administration of vaccines as per the national immunization schedule in children younger than 2 years.

Torres, Fernando; Domínguez, Paula; Aruanno, M Eugenia; Macherett, M Julia; Nocent, Eliana S; Risoli, Lucía; Sasso, Magdalena; Cabello, Carmen; Seoane, María N

INTRODUCTION The reduction in the number of visits to health care centers since the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic may affect mandatory vaccination. OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on the administration of the pentavalent and the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines to children younger than 2 years at the vaccination center of a children's hospital in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. METHOD Cross-sectional study using the vaccination center's digital records from January to May 2019 and 2020. Results. In the second fortnight of March 2020, vaccinations dropped by 64.2 %. When examining the first dose of the pentavalent and MMR vaccines, such reduction was 74.9 % and 55.1 %, respectively. CONCLUSION As of the second fortnight of March 2020, vaccinations dropped by 64.2 % compared to the same period of the previous year.