Since March 2020, routine childhood immunization services have been disrupted on a global scale that may be unprecedented since the inception of expanded programs on immunization in the 1970s. Fifty-three percent of the 129 countries where data were available reported moderate-to-severe disruptions, or a total __41__ of vaccination services during March-April 2020. “Immunization is one of the most powerful and fundamental disease prevention tools in the history of public health,”said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Disruption to immunization programmes from the COVID-19 pandemic __42__ to unwind decades of progress against vaccine-preventable diseases like measles.”

       “At the 4 June Global Vaccine Summit in London, donors will __43__ their support to the Vaccine Alliance to sustain and accelerate this lifesaving work in some of the most vulnerable countries. From the bottom of my heart, I urge donors to fully fund the Alliance.”

        The reasons for disrupted services __44__ . Some parents are reluctant to leave home because of restrictions on movement, lack of information or because they fear __45__ with the COVID-19 virus. And many health workers are unavailable because of restrictions on travel, or redeployment to COVID response duties, as well as a lack of protective equipment.