Guidance

Immunization in the context of COVID-19 pandemic: frequently asked questions (‎FAQ)‎, 16 April 2020

These FAQs accompany WHO’s Guiding principles for immunization activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.1

As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, these FAQ will be revised as necessary,

Immunizations are an essential health service that protect susceptible individuals from vaccine-preventable diseases

(VPD).2

By providing timely immunizations, individuals and communities remain protected and the likelihood of a

VPD outbreak decreases, Preventing a VPD outbreak not only saves lives but requires fewer resources than responding

to the outbreak and helps reduce burden on a health system already strained by the COVID-19 pandemic, While

committing to sustaining immunization systems, countries should use approaches that respect the principle of do-noharm and limit transmission of COVID-19 while providing immunization activities, Immunization visits can also be

used as opportunities to disseminate messages to encourage behaviours to reduce transmission risk of the COVID-19

virus, to identify signs and symptoms of COVID-19 disease, and to provide guidance on what to do if symptoms emerge,

Languages

  • Spanish

Publication year

2020

Publisher

World Health Organization (WHO)

Type

Guidance

Categories

  • Programme management

Diseases

  • COVID-19