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Since the start of the pandemic, routine vaccination has been delayed or suspended in many countries. Over one-third of countries have had continued disruptions to routine immunization programs in 2021. Since 2020, there has been an increase in zero-dose children, leading to a substantial immunity gap in many developing countries. Unvaccinated children have become susceptible to outbreaks due to missed immunization doses. Post-pandemic, measles, polio, and cholera outbreaks have occurred. To address this challenge, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) have launched the Big Catch-up campaign to accelerate catch-up efforts, promote recovery, and enhance routine immunization programs in priority countries. This paper outlines the prevalent challenges associated with reaching underserved children over the past four years, with a focus on the implementation of catch-up and recovery initiatives in 10 countries in two regions of Africa (East and Southern Africa (ESAR) and West and Central Africa Region (WCAR). The study findings indicated that it was feasible to identify children who had not received any vaccinations in the country by utilizing various data sources documented in research papers. An initial obstacle encountered was locating these children within the community. Thematic analysis of the plans culminated in categorizing the primary challenge, initially involving vaccinating children over 2 years old per national policy. The subsequent difficulties encompassed identifying these children, generating demand for vaccinations among older children, and reporting on the population of children who had not received any vaccines. The strategies primarily revolved around fortifying the data system to capture these zero-dose children, implementing catch-up campaigns, and the Periodic Intensification of Routine Immunization (PIRI). The successful execution of the proposed strategies may diminish immunity gaps and reinforce routine immunization services, aligning with the IA2030 agenda.

Several experts have warned that the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated confinement measures may have taken a devastating toll on youth mental health. While the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly created important challenges for children and youth, these claims vastly rely on cross-sectional data collected during the pandemic, from which it is difficult to draw firm conclusions. In this commentary, we offer a critical appraisal of the evidence from emerging longitudinal studies spanning the pre- and intra-pandemic period with a focus on internalizing and externalizing disorders, suicidality, eating disorders and substance use. We also discuss important research considerations in the monitoring of the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth mental health as well as promising interventions to help mitigate potential long-lasting consequences of this unprecedented public health crisis. Plusieurs experts ont prévenu que la pandémie actuelle de coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) et les mesures de distanciation sociale adoptées pourraient avoir un effet dévastateur sur la santé mentale des jeunes. Bien que la pandémie de COVID-19 ait certainement créé d’importants défis pour les enfants et les adolescents, les connaissances à ce sujet reposent principalement sur des données transversales collectées en cours de pandémie, à partir desquelles il peut être difficile de tirer des conclusions définitives. Dans ce commentaire, nous offrons une revue critique des évidences provenant d’études longitudinales émergentes couvrant la période pré- et intra-pandémique en mettant l’accent sur les troubles internalisés et externalisés, le risque suicidaire, les troubles alimentaires et l’usage de substances. Nous discutons également les considérations de recherche importantes pour le suivi des effets à long terme de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur la santé mentale des jeunes et proposons certaines interventions prometteuses pour réduire les conséquences permanentes potentielles de cette crise de santé publique sans précédent.

This paper aims to develop a recovery planning approach in a three-tier manufacturing supply chain, which has a single supplier, manufacturer, and retailer under an imperfect production environment, in which we consider three types of sudden disturbances: demand fluctuation, and disruptions to production and raw material supply, which are not known in advance. Firstly, a mathematical model is developed for generating an ideal plan under imperfect production for a finite planning horizon while maximizing total profit, and then we re-formulate the model to generate the recovery plan after happening of each sudden disturbance. Considering the high commercial cost and computational intensity and complexity of this problem, we propose an efficient heuristic, to obtain a recovery plan, for each disturbance type, for a finite future period, after the occurrence of a disturbance. The heuristic solutions are compared with a standard solution technique for a considerable number of random test instances, which demonstrates the trustworthy performance of the developed heuristics. We also develop another heuristic for managing the combined effects of multiple sudden disturbances in a period. Finally, a simulation approach is proposed to investigate the effects of different types of disturbance events generated randomly. We present several numerical examples and random experiments to explicate the benefits of our developed approaches. Results reveal that in the event of sudden disturbances, the proposed mathematical and heuristic approaches are capable of generating recovery plans accurately and consistently.

In this paper, we develop a quantitative reactive mitigation approach for managing supply disruption for a supply chain. We consider a three-tier supply chain system with multiple raw material suppliers, a single manufacturer and multiple retailers, where the system may face sudden disruption in its raw material supply. First, we develop a mathematical model that generates a recovery plan after the occurrence of a single disruption. Here, the objective is to minimize the total cost during the recovery time window while being subject to supply, capacity, demand, and delivery constraints. We develop an efficient heuristic to solve the model for a single disruption. Second, we also consider multiple disruptions, where a new disruption may or may not affect the recovery plans of earlier disruptions. We also develop a new dynamic mathematical and heuristic approach that is capable of dealing with multiple disruptions, after the occurrence of each disruption as a series, on a real-time basis. We compare the heuristic solutions with those obtained by a standard search algorithm for a set of randomly generated disruption test problems, which shows the consistent performance of our heuristic. Finally, a simulation model is developed to analyze the effect of randomly generated disruption events that are not known in advance. The numerical results and many random experiments are presented to explain the usefulness of the developed models and methodologies.

With unprecedented losses in biodiversity, the need for stronger environmental policy has emerged as a conservation priority. Yet recovery planning for imperiled species remains a cumbersome, slow legislative process. In the present article, we examine features of recovery planning for species listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act to determine those influencing recovery planning duration. We found that the time to completion of recovery strategies increases with the number of jurisdictions concurrently listing the species, greater land tenure diversity, species population size, and road density. Species at risk in Canada with no listing status in the United States also suffered longer delays. To achieve a more efficient, timely, and defensible implementation of recovery planning, we recommend that governments prioritize recovery planning on the basis of risk level, promote transjurisdictional collaboration among listing agencies, anticipate and mitigate conservation challenges associated with multitenured and developed landscapes, and adopt procedures that enhance compliance with legislated timelines for recovery planning.

The adoption and maintenance of healthy behaviours including age-appropriate amounts of physical activity, limited sedentary and screen time, and healthy eating are the foundations for youth development and thriving. In reviewing extant evidence, we observe that the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with marked reductions in physical activity, increased sedentary and screen time, and increased food intake and unhealthy snacking. Deleterious effects in movement behaviours appear to be more pronounced among vulnerable groups and food insecurity has become more widespread. To contribute to mitigating these impacts, we advocate for strengthened evidence-based public health. Towards this end, ongoing surveillance should be intensified and augmented with additional indicators of social inequalities. More importantly, substantial efforts must be devoted to developing, implementing, and evaluating complex interventions aimed at equitably promoting recommended 24-hour movement behaviours and healthy eating guidelines in home, childcare, school, and neighbourhood settings. L’adoption et le maintien de saines habitudes de vie telles des niveaux d’activité physique appropriés pour l’âge, des durées limitées d’activités sédentaires et de temps d’écran, de même qu’une alimentation saine, sont des piliers pour le développement et l’épanouissement des enfants et des jeunes. Après avoir recensé les écrits disponibles, nous constatons que la pandémie de COVID-19 a été associée avec une réduction marquée de l’activité physique, une augmentation de la durée des activités sédentaires et du temps d’écran et une augmentation de la consommation de nourriture et de collations sucrées. Les effets délétères sur les comportements d’activité physique semblent plus prononcés parmi les groupes vulnérables et l’insécurité alimentaire est davantage répandue. Afin de contribuer à atténuer ces impacts, nous proposons le renforcement d’une santé publique fondée sur les données probantes. Nous recommandons une intensification et une bonification des activités de surveillance par l’ajout de nouveaux indicateurs pour mesurer les inégalités sociales de santé. De plus, des efforts considérables doivent être investis dans le développement, l’implantation et l’évaluation d’interventions complexes visant à promouvoir équitablement les directives canadiennes relatives au mouvement sur 24 heures et les saines habitudes alimentaires dans les familles, milieux de garde, écoles et quartiers résidentiels.

The Secretary General of the United Nations described the impact of COVID-19-related school closures as a “generational catastrophe.” What will be the legacy of the 2020–2021 pandemic-related disruptions in 5, 10, 20 years from now, as regards education and well-being of children and youth? Addressing the disproportionate impact on those growing up in socio-economically disadvantaged areas or on those with pre-existing learning challenges is key to sustainable recovery. This commentary builds on the four literature reviews presented in this Special Section on a Pandemic Recovery Plan for Children and proposes strategies to understand and attenuate the impact of pandemic-related lockdown measures. Importantly, we need a monitoring strategy to assess indicators of child development in three areas of functioning: education and learning, health, and well-being (or mental health). Surveillance needs to begin in the critical prenatal period (with prenatal care to expectant parents), and extend to the end of formal high school/college education. Based on child development indicators, a stepped strategy for intervention, ranging from all-encompassing population-based health and education promotion initiatives to targeted prevention programs and targeted remedial/therapeutic interventions, can be offered. As proposed in the UN plan for recovery, ensuring healthy present and future generations involves a concerted and intensive intersectoral effort from the education, health, psychosocial services, and scientific communities. Selon les Nations Unis, les perturbations scolaires associées à la pandémie de COVID-19 pourraient mener à une « catastrophe générationnelle » en gaspillant un potentiel humain incalculable, sapant des décennies de progrès et exacerbant des inégalités bien ancrées. Le déploiement du vaccin chez les moins de 12 ans n’a pas débuté avant la rentrée scolaire 2021, ce qui laisse présager de nombreuses perturbations pour cette 3e année scolaire pandémique. Quel sera le legs des perturbations entrainées par la pandémie de COVID-19 en matière d’éducation et de bien-être dans 5, 10, ou 20 ans? Une relance durable dépendra des mesures prises pour prévenir l’impact négatif disproportionné sur les enfants/adolescents de milieux socioéconomiques défavorisés et ceux qui ont des défis d’apprentissage préexistants. Ce commentaire propose des stratégies pour comprendre et atténuer l’impact des perturbations pandémiques en se fondant sur les quatre articles de la présente « Section spéciale sur un plan de relance pour les enfants suite à la pandémie ». Trois lignes d’action prioritaires émergent à la lumière des connaissances scientifiques actuelles. Premièrement, le contexte pandémique met en évidence la nécessité d’accéder à données intersectorielles (éducation, santé, services psychosociaux) permettant de distinguer les conséquences à court et à long terme. Deuxièmement, il faut être prêt à déployer une stratégie interventionnelle par étape, avec des interventions universelles en promotion, jusqu’aux interventions plus ciblées et intensives. Troisièmement, il faudra mettre en place des programmes particuliers pour les enfants/adolescents de milieux défavorisés et pour ceux qui présentent des facteurs de risque personnels (défis de santé mentale, retards d’apprentissage). À titre d’exemple, le tutorat scolaire devrait être facilement accessible dans tous les milieux défavorisés. Tel que proposé dans le plan de relance de l’ONU, un effort concerté, intensif et intersectoriel de la part des sciences de l’éducation, de la santé, et des services psychosociaux sera nécessaire pour assurer la santé et l’éducation des générations présentes et futures.

Canadian lockdown response to the COVID-19 pandemic has included province-wide school shutdowns and frequent individual school closures to contain outbreaks. A number of scientists and political figures have shared their concerns about the medium- and long-term effects of school closures/shutdowns on student academic achievement, learning loss, and learning gaps. Unfortunately, there are no pan-Canadian studies to date to help define the scope of the problem. In this commentary, we report the results of a number of longitudinal research studies conducted in the Netherlands, Belgium, England, and the United States. Using these studies as a basis for comparison, we extrapolated a “Canadian” hypothesis on the unintended academic consequences of school closures, keeping in mind the unique nature of each province. We continue with recommendations on the types of research required to validate this hypothesis, and conclude with implications on public health and education should learning loss and gaps prove true. La pandémie de Covid-19 a entrainé la fermeture temporaire de plusieurs écoles au Canada ainsi que des interruptions scolaires fréquentes en raison d’éclosions. Plusieurs scientifiques et politiciens ont partagé leurs inquiétudes sur la place publique quant aux effets à moyen et long terme de cette situation sur la réussite des élèves. Malheureusement, aucune étude pancanadienne ne permet à ce jour de bien circonscrire l’ampleur du problème. Dans ce commentaire, nous rapportons le fruit des quelques recherches longitudinales réalisées ailleurs dans le monde sur cette question (c.-à-d. Pays Bas, Belgique, Angleterre et États-Unis). En utilisant ces recherches comme base de comparaison, nous nous avançons sur ce que serait l’hypothèse «canadienne» tout en gardant en tête les réalités très singulières de chaque province. Nous concluons le commentaire par des recommandations sur le type de recherche à mettre en œuvre pour valider cette hypothèse et sur les implications pour l’éducation et la santé publique si elle s’avérait confirmée.

A large research-based consensus was achieved over the past 30 years concerning the importance of prenatal and early childhood development: Preventive interventions are needed early in life because physical and psychological problems during pregnancy and early childhood often lead to serious physical, psychological, educational, and social problems throughout the life course. These problems are also transmitted to the next generation. The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have increased the number of families who need these early-life preventive interventions. Without intensive support, children from high-risk families are likely to fail in school, to have serious physical and mental health problems, and to reproduce another generation of children with similar physical, cognitive, and mental health problems. We underline the need to: (1) assess the extent of the COVID-19 damage on pregnant women and on their spouses, as well as on the families with preschool children; (2) help service providers identify the state-of-the art services they should implement; (3) assess the implementation of these services; and (4) help service providers maintain highly effective interventions. For the next 20 to 30 years at least, governments will be under intense pressure to invest massively in the health and care of the baby boomers. We are thus facing abysmal health care and retirement costs for the next 3 decades. Governments should be pressured to substantially invest in the support of pregnant women and preschool children, rather than in the sustained quality of life of the aging baby boomers.

United States recovery plans contain biological information for a species listed under the Endangered Species Act and specify recovery criteria to provide basis for species recovery. The objective of our study was to evaluate whether recovery plans provide uncertainty (e.g., variance) with estimates of population size. We reviewed all finalized recovery plans for listed terrestrial vertebrate species to record the following data: (1) if a current population size was given, (2) if a measure of uncertainty or variance was associated with current estimates of population size and (3) if population size was stipulated for recovery. We found that 59% of completed recovery plans specified a current population size, 14.5% specified a variance for the current population size estimate and 43% specified population size as a recovery criterion. More recent recovery plans reported more estimates of current population size, uncertainty and population size as a recovery criterion. Also, bird and mammal recovery plans reported more estimates of population size and uncertainty compared to reptiles and amphibians. We suggest the use of calculating minimum detectable differences to improve confidence when delisting endangered animals and we identified incentives for individuals to get involved in recovery planning to improve access to quantitative data.