Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on BCG Vaccination in a Selected Area of Bangladesh
Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemic, children and women, vaccination coverage;, EPIAbstract
Background: BCG vaccination is an essential EPI schedule among the neonates for the prevention of tuberculosis.
Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess the effect of COVID19 pandemic on the BCG vaccination as per EPI schedule among newborn infant in selected area of Dhaka city of Bangladesh.
Methodology: This study employed a cross-sectional design, utilizing secondary data. This study was conducted from November 2021 to October, 2022. This study was conducted in Savar Municipality of Dhaka district, Bangladesh. Infants aged 0 to or 11 months and women aged 15 to 49 years as well as pregnant women, were included from the DHIS2 database sub-section Savar Municipality. All the secondary data of the infants and women of the selected DHIS2 database sub-section were considered to extract the vaccination coverage. To record the EPI vaccination-related data from data base, a data collection form was used. In case of infant immunization, it included the variables regarding the coverage of BCG.
Results: The monthly average number of children vaccinated with BCG was 611±8 (both sexes), 307.63±6.37 (boys) and 303.63±4.72 (girls) during the pre-pandemic period, while these numbers were 608.25±68.67, 304.13±33.92, and 304.13±34.84, respectively, for both sexes, boys, and girls during the pandemic period. The overall average number of children vaccinated with BCG is higher during the pre-pandemic period compared to the pandemic period. The more boys were vaccinated during the pandemic period, and more girls were vaccinated during the pandemic period. However, these differences were not statistically significant (p =0.906, 0.782, and 0.969, respectively).
Conclusion: In conclusion, the BCG vaccination is not similar during and before COVID-19 pandemic.
Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases, June 2026;13(1):51-56
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Copyright (c) 2026 Kazi Aeysha Siddika, Famous Uddin Chayan, Md Sarwar Jahan, 4. Md. Jahidur Rahman, Kasefa Farhen, Suraiya Jesmin Shoma
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