DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sajb.2025.v13i11.006

Pages: 1520-1525

The COVID-19 virus has impacted routine immunization services targeting children across the world. Through this paper, the authors aim to access the situation that is happening. This review aims to assess how and to what extent routine childhood immunization coverage has declined during the COVID-19 pandemic, early signals that suggest the resurgence of measles and pertussis and what this means for policy and health system resilience We combined the latest world and regional proof on changes in coverage, timeliness and completion of core childhood vaccines. We did administrative evidence, modelling studies and outbreak reports to take into account inequities by region, income level and vulnerable groups. All WHO regions saw coverage declines during the pandemic, with recovery being heterogeneous and widening gaps in settings with pre-existing under-immunization. New information shows many delays, many zero-dose pockets, and increasing outbreaks of measles and pertussis in areas where coverage has dropped below herd-immunity thresholds. Catch-up campaigns, additional outreach, and digital trackers were deployed by health systems, though implementation is uneven and under-resourced. Disruptions due to COVID-19 resulted in an immunity gap and renewed measles and pertussis transmissions. We need catch-up strategies that last, recovery plans that focus on equity, and monitoring and evaluation systems for routine immunizations.