Impact of COVID-19 on vaccine-preventable diseases and antibiotic resistance

In a response to the impending risk for disruption of vaccination activities, the WHO and its Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization has provided an interim guidance for vaccinations. The guidance clearly states that routine immunization is a core health service that should be prioritized in order to prevent an upsurge of vaccine-preventable diseases. However, immunization campaigns not part of routine immunizations in areas where there is no active outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, are recommended to be paused to minimize the spread of COVID-19.