IN MONDAY’S Echo, the report says parents are urged to ensure that children receive their vaccinations as scheduled, in order to protect them from a range of potentially life-threatening diseases.

Vaccinations save millions of lives annually around the world. Much has been achieved over the last century.

Smallpox, the scourge of past ages, no longer exists. Polio, feared by every parent in the post-war years, has been eradicated in all but two countries of the world.

However, UNICEF, WHO and GAVI, the global vaccination alliance, all report that our understandable focus on Covid-19 has disrupted immunisation programmes around the world, because of delays in vaccine deliveries, parents’ fears about leaving their homes and shortages of health workers.

This has led to 80 million children being potentially at risk from diseases such as diphtheria, measles and polio.

Someone recently advocated that we withdraw all aid to overseas countries and use the money to fight Covid-19 in the UK.

Apart from its breathtaking selfishness, this shows a complete ignorance of the way global diseases operate - diseases like Covid-19 and also HIV/AIDS, polio, malaria, measles and TB.

The response has to be global and I’m thankful that our government has promised to make a Covid-19 vaccine accessible to all, when ready.

Recently, our government has also pledged to support GAVI generously, to support the immunisation of 75 million children over the next five years.

Let’s continue to show our appreciation of the vaccinations available to us by making full use of them for our children and keep up pressure on our government to ensure these life-saving programmes are extended to all children everywhere.

Angela Joynson

Wareham