Alteration in vaccination rates and an evaluation of physicians’ perceptions of the possible impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on childhood vaccinations in Ankara, Turkey

Figures & data

Figure 1. Some of the measures taken in Turkey to control of COVID-19 pandemic.^2–10

Table 1. Questions of the survey collecting opinions of physicians about vaccination in Turkey during the pandemic and distribution of the answers

	Family practitioners(%)	Pediatricians(%)	Pediatric infectious diseases specialists(%)
Do you recommend routine vaccination to your patients during the COVID-19 pandemic?  -Yes -No Do you think that there have been setbacks in routine vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic?  -Yes  -No	91.6 8.4 (n = 2860)	73.9 25.4 (n = 1908)	94.2 5.8 (n = 70)
Which was the attitude of your patients regarding the routine vaccination during the pandemic?*  -They do not want to come for vaccination due to the pandemic.  -There is no problem in vaccination during the pandemic.  -other than these	38.3 57.0 4.5 (n = 2580)	74.4 10.5 7.6 (n = 1644)	65.8 11.4 12.8 (n = 70)
What are your needs/recommendations for the prevention of setbacks in routine vaccination during the course of COVID-19 pandemic?  -preparing a national guideline on routine vaccination services during COVID-19 pandemic  -the importance of the continuation of childhood vaccines could be emphasized through written and visual media and social media with short films (public service ad) aimed at informing the public  -designating special service areas reserved for immunization services  -all of these  -no need/recommendation	4.0 21.7 10.8 62.5 2.7 (n = 1670)	5.5 20.7 6.6 57.7 5.1 (n = 1620)	5.7 27.1 30.0 37.2 0.0 (n = 70)

* The chi-square statistic with Yates correction is 42.0022. The p-value is < 0.00001. Significant at p < .05 for family physician with pediatrician

Table 2. Vaccination rates of children under the age of 24 months during March, April, and May 2020 in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and those of the same period of the year 2019 in Ankara, Turkey

	2019%			2020%			Percent change %
Name of Vaccine (age of vaccination)	March	April	May	March	April	May	March	April	May
Hepatitis B Dose 1 (birth)	98.6	98.5	97.8	97.8	97.8	96.2	−0.8	−0.7	−1.6
Hepatitis B Dose 2 (1. month)	98.5	97.8	98.5	98.5	98	96.8	0	+0.2	−1.7
Hepatitis B Dose 3 (6. month)	98.8	98.5	98.8	98.2	98.5	94.5	−0.6	0	−4.3
BCG (2. month)	98.8	98.7	98.8	98.1	98.3	96.9	−0.7	−0.4	−1.9
DAPT IPV HIB dose 1 (2. month)	98.8	98.6	98.5	98.3	98.6	97.3	−0.5	0	−1.2
DAPT IPV HIB dose 2 (4. month)	98.9	98.6	98.7	98.1	98.3	96.1	−0.8	−0.3	−2.6
DAPT IPV HIB dose 3 (6. month)	98.8	98.6	98.6	98.1	98.3	94.6	−0.7	−0.3	−4.0
DAPT IPV HIB booster (18. month)	98.3	98.1	98.3	97.8	97.5	91.5	−0.5	−0.6	−6.8
CPV dose 1 (2. month)	98.8	98.7	98.5	98.3	98.6	97.4	−0.5	−0.1	−1.1
CPV dose 2 (4. month)	98.9	98.6	98.7	98.1	98.4	96.2	−0.8	−0.2	−2.5
CPV booster (12. month)	98.5	98.4	98.4	97.6	97.7	94.6	−0.9	−0.7	−3.8
OPV dose 1 (6. month)	98.1	98.3	94.7	98.1	98.3	94.7	0	0	0
OPV dose 2 (18. month)	97.6	97.9	98.2	97.7	97.4	91.4	+0.1	−0.5	−6.8
MMR (12. month)	98.5	98.4	98.4	97.6	97.6	94.5	−0.9	−0.8	−3.9
Varicella (12. month)	97.8	97.9	98	97.2	97.3	94.3	−0.6	−0.6	−3.7
HAV dose 1 (18. month)	98.3	98.3	98.3	97.8	97.6	91.4	−0.5	−0.7	−6.9
HAV dose 2 (24. month)	98.5	98.3	97.9	97.5	97.4	92.2	−1.0	−0.9	−5.7

Figure 2. Mean vaccination ratios of children under the age of 24 months during March, April, May 2019 and 2020 in Ankara, Turkey