One in five preschool children have missed a routine immunisation since March mainly owing to COVID-19 fears, a survey of parents has revealed

And about one third of children who have become injured or unwell during the pandemic have had healthcare delayed or avoided, shows the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne’s report.

The report show it is “critical” to remind parents as the pandemic continues of the importance of staying up-to-date with immunisations, says RCH paediatrician and report author Dr Anthea Rhodes.

“Our study suggests that a concerning proportion of parents have delayed scheduled routine vaccinations in young children, with the primary reason being concern about catching COVID-19 at a healthcare facility,” said Dr Rhodes.