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

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). 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.