Regular Pediatric Vaccines falling behind; PAHO says this is DANGEROUS

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, January 28, 2022 – “COVID19 is easier on kids” is an idea that has held serious weight since the start of the pandemic. And while the disease itself isn’t affecting children as badly as adults it is impacting them in different and more serious ways.

Covid-19 has monopolized the attention of the healthcare system in many areas leaving children without their routine vaccinations says Dr. Carissa Ettienne, Director of the Pan American Health Organization.

“Millions of kids across the Americas have missed out on their medical visits leaving them behind on their routine vaccinations.  As a result countries are beginning to see outbreaks of diseases that for years were under control. Brazil for example is fighting an ongoing measles outbreak while Haiti and the Dominican Republic are fighting diphtheria transmission.  That is threatening children’s growth and development.”

Dr. Ettienne says many countries are at risk of losing two decades of immunization coverage and because of this children are in danger of falling prey to diseases that were once under control.

She urged parents to take their children in for their routine vaccinations against other diseases, stressing that these services were essential before the pandemic and are a key part of fighting COVID-19. Another serious issue was Education.

“Our children continue to face the worst educational crisis that we have ever seen in this region, with millions of children yet to return to the classroom.”

The most important thing to do combat the wave of mental stress and improve development in children she said was to get them back in school.

“Ministries of Health, Education and Social Justice services must work together to bring as many of our children as possible back to school safely.”

Director Ettienne added that it was possible to safely reopen schools despite COVID19, “By promoting mask wearing and social distancing and practicing proper ventilation countries can safely reopen schools.”

She cautioned that before vaccinating healthy children countries should ensure that high-risk persons in their population were fully vaccinated.

Dr Ciro Ugarte, (PAHO) also said it was more important to vaccinate teachers and implement rigid safety protocols like masks and early detection rather than vaccinate healthy children at this time.