The survey measured the consequences of discontinuing several vaccines as part of routine and campaign immunization services in 112 countries between 2020 and 2030 for 14 pathogens.

Researchers at Imperial College London estimated the excess burden of yellow fever, human papillomavirus (HPV), rubella, measles, and hepatitis B at 49,000 additional deaths, with measles accounting for most of them.

The latter condition accounted for most of the excess deaths as a result of Covid-19-related interruptions in vaccination.

The burden of measles and yellow fever increased immediately after the pandemic, the researchers agreed.

In the case of measles, the potential was high in the African and Southeast Asian regions, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The pandemic affected diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine coverage.

An analysis by WHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) found that 25 million children worldwide did not receive the DTP vaccine.

Africa needs to immunize 33 million children in two years to be on track for global immunization, WHO said.

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