Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Routine Childhood Immunization Programs in Indonesia: Taking Rural and Urban Area into Account

Abstract

Background To date, the primary global concern has revolved around addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a growing awareness of the pandemic’s secondary impacts on critical aspects of healthcare, such as childhood immunization programs. Objective This study aims to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childhood immunization programs in Indonesia, with a specific focus on performance disparities between rural and urban areas. It considers factors like access, utilization, and program workload. Methods Data were collected from primary health cares (PHCs) in two regions in West Java Province, Indonesia, representing rural and urban areas. A descriptive analysis was conducted to compare vaccination coverage, drop-out rates, and the ratio of vaccinators per dose from 2019 to 2021 in 40 and 22 PHCs for rural and urban areas, respectively. A general linear model was employed to evaluate the differences in these parameters over the three consecutive years. Results The results indicate fluctuations in vaccine coverage over the three years, with the most significant impact observed in 2020, particularly in rural areas. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in routine immunization coverage, drop-out rates, and vaccinator ratios between rural and urban areas from 2019 to 2021 ( p <0.05). In 2021, both rural and urban areas displayed significant differences in performance parameters for routine immunization and COVID-19 vaccination ( p <0.05), except in terms of coverage for IPV and COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion The study highlights a reduction in routine immunization coverage during the pandemic, a concerning issue that increases the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases, particularly in rural areas.