RESUMO
Introduction: This study aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on routine immunization along 4 abbreviated time frames: before the pandemic in 2019, stay-at-home period (March-May) in 2020, reopening period (June-August) in 2020, and corresponding months in 2021. Methods: A secondary analysis of immunization data in Kuwait during the prepandemic period in 2019, stay-at-home period (March-May) in 2020, reopening period (June-August) in 2020, and corresponding months in 2021 was conducted. All vaccines given at 2, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of age were included in the study. Results: The mean of total visits from March 2020 to May 2020 dropped (-28.9%) compared with the visits in March 2019-May 2019 and then increased during the reopening period in June 2020-August 2020 (+31.8%). All vaccinations scheduled for children aged ≤24 months showed a reduction. The greatest reduction was detected at age 24 months (-44.2%), followed by age 18 months (-36.5%) and then age 1 year (-28.8%). There were greater declines among non-Kuwaiti children than among Kuwaiti children for all types of vaccines. The mean of total visits in March 2021-May 2021 increased (+15.4%) compared with the mean in the same period in 2020. However, a reduction of -16.0% still exists compared with the reduction at baseline in 2019. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a large impact on childhood vaccinations, with recovery in subsequent months.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has wrought havoc upon healthcare and economic systems worldwide. COVID-19 vaccines considered a beacon of hope for normal life to return. We wished to understand the willingness of people in Kuwait to be vaccinated against COVID-19. METHODS: An online, exploratory, cross-sectional study was conducted on 16-18 January 2021 using a validated structured questionnaire to collect data from adults aged 18 years or older living in Kuwait by applying a "snowball sampling" method. RESULTS: A total of 7274 people received an online link of the survey on their smartphone or computer, and 6943 people enrolled in this study (95.4%). Kuwaiti nationals represented 79.7% of the study cohort, 54.8% were aged ≥40 years, and 66.7% were females. Hesitancy against a COVID-19 vaccine was remarkably high (74.3%), with 50.8% not planning to take it and 23.5% not sure about taking it. The overall mean perception score was 3.4 ± 2.8, with 66.8% having a negative attitude towards a COVID-19 vaccine. Multiple logistic regression analysis of the factors affecting the decision to take a COVID-19 vaccine was done. The decision to take a COVID-19 vaccine was significantly positively associated with younger age (OR = 1.219), being male (2.169), having a higher education level (1.362), vaccinated against seasonal influenza previously (2.706), being a non-Kuwaiti (1.329), being a healthcare worker (1.366), and working in the private sector (1.228). Options to encourage future COVID-19 vaccination were more studies showing the vaccine to be safe and efficacious (68.6%), physician recommendation (41.8%), mandatory travel requirements (39.8%), if a family or friend vaccinated (34.9%) and compulsory by government (33.1%) or for employment (29.8%). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that considerable vaccine hesitancy persists despite the widespread availability of highly efficacious and safe COVID-19 vaccines.