When the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic struck in early 2020, the associated lockdowns and the fear of contracting the disease made parents miss their children’s vaccinations. India saw a 70% reduction in routine vaccinations during early 2020, and concerns were expressed by World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nation’s (UNICEF) that vaccine preventable disease (VPD) may make a comeback [1,2]. In this background, we introduced of home vaccinations [3]. We offered home vaccinations to parents who were afraid of coming out or could not come out due to various reasons.

The criteria for offering home vaccination were: parents to consult a pediatrician on video consultation or tele consultation – to discuss the vaccinations that are due there for child [4]; the pediatrician after detailed history would explain the vaccinations and possible common side effects and prescribe the vaccinations; and this prescription then be handled by a qualified pharmacist who will dispense the vaccines. The vaccines were delivered by a team of two experienced nurses, an ambulance officer and an ambulance driver capable of handling emergencies like anaphylaxis. This team visited the family in appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), match the child’s details with the prescription and administer the vaccines after taking parental consent. The team had provision of all emergency drugs, and observed the child for half an hour for any possible side effects.

This concept of home vaccination has gained good acceptance. In 2020, we carried out more than 25,000 home vaccinations for children. We feel that this concept is worth taking up on a wider scale by hospitals and non-governmental organizations so as to address the possibility of resurgence of VPDs during this pandemic.

1. GAVI Alliance. Vaccinations during a pandemic: Benefit or risk? Accessed June 10, 2021. Available from: https://www. gavi.org/vaccineswork/routine-vaccinations-during-pandemic-benefit-or-risk?gclid=CjwKCAjw7diEBhB-EiwAsk Vi10Gf1ZTiJKM5SBo6jfOwuI43gNeCkLVAOpF7kxXL8S-HF AbkySaydBoCJugQAvD_BwE

2. Khatiwada AP, Shrestha N, Shrestha S. Will Covid-19 lead to a resurgence of vaccine preventable diseases? Accessed June 10, 2021. Available from: https://www.dovepress.com/will-covid-19-lead-to-a-resurgence-of-vaccine-preventable-diseases-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-IDR

3. Ogbuanu IU, Li AJ, Anya BM, et al. Can vaccination coverage be improved by reducing missed opportunities for vaccination? Findings from assessments in Chad and Malawi using the new WHO methodology. PLoS One.　2019;14:e0210648.　　

4. Ames HMR, Glenton C, Lewin S, Cochrane Consumers and Communication Group. Parents’ and informal caregivers’ views and experiences of communication about routine childhood vaccination: A synthesis of qualitative evidence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.　2017;2017:CD011787.