Childhood vaccination rates to stagnate in 2023
That is according to World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) summarizes vaccination trends against 14 diseases – all of which underscore the need for ongoing efforts to catch up, restore and strengthen the system.
“The The latest trends prove that many countries are still missing out on too many children.“Closing the immunization gap requires a global effort, with governments, partners and local leaders investing in primary health care and community workers to ensure every child is vaccinated and overall health care is strengthened,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
Number of children receiving three doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine in 2023 – a key indicator of global vaccination coverage – stopped at 84 percent (108 million).
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However, people who did not receive a dose of the vaccine increased from 13.9 million in 2022 to 14.5 million in 2023.
The agencies report that more than half of unvaccinated children live in 31 fragile, conflict-affected and fragile countries, where children are particularly vulnerable to preventable diseases due to disruptions and lack of access to security, nutrition and health services.
Besides, 6.5 million children do not get the third dose of DTP vaccine, needed to protect infants and young children from disease.
These trends, which show global vaccination coverage remaining largely unchanged since 2022 and – more alarmingly – still not back to 2019 levels, reflect ongoing challenges with disruptions in services, logistical challenges, vaccine hesitancy and inequalities in access to shots.
Emerging measles outbreak
Data also shows that vaccination rates against the deadly measles have stagnated, leaving nearly 35 million children without adequate protection.
In 2023, only 83 percent of children worldwide received the first dose of measles vaccine through routine health services, while the number of children receiving the second dose increased slightly compared to the previous year, reaching 74 percent of children.
These figures fall short of the 95% coverage target needed to prevent outbreaks, avoid unnecessary illness and death, and achieve measles elimination.
Over the past five years, measles outbreaks have occurred in 103 countries – home to about three-quarters of the world’s infants. Low vaccination coverage (80% or less) is a major factor. In contrast, 91 countries with high measles vaccination rates have had no outbreaks.
Canary in the mine
“Measles outbreaks are the canary in the coal mine, exposing and exploiting gaps in vaccination and strike first at the most vulnerable,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
“This is a solvable problem. Measles vaccines are affordable and can be delivered even in the most challenging settings. WHO is committed to working with all its partners to support countries to close this gap and protect the most at-risk children as quickly as possible.”
Good news on global HPV vaccination coverage
The new data also highlights some bright spots on the vaccination front.
The continued introduction of several newer vaccines, including those for human papillomavirus (HPV), meningitis, pneumococcal, polio and rotavirus disease, continues to expand coverage – particularly in the 57 countries supported by Gavi (the Vaccine Alliance).
For example, the proportion of adolescent girls globally receiving at least one dose of the HPV vaccine to protect against cervical cancer increased from 20% in 2022 to 27% in 2023.
“HPV vaccines are one of the most impactful vaccines in Gavi’s portfolio and It’s great that it’s now reaching more girls than ever before.Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi said.
However, HPV vaccination rates remain far below the 90 percent target. cervical cancer removal is a public health problem, affecting only 56% of adolescent girls in high-income countries and 23% in low- and middle-income countries.
