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