A global effort is required.
More than four years since the onset of the pandemic, global childhood vaccination rates have not yet rebounded to their previous levels, according to a new report.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) released data on Monday highlighting the ongoing struggle to reach pre-pandemic immunization levels. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the importance of a concerted global effort, urging governments, partners, and local leaders to invest in primary healthcare and community workers to ensure every child is vaccinated and healthcare systems are strengthened.
This report, which covers vaccination rates for 2023, is the most comprehensive dataset on global immunization trends for 14 diseases. It includes estimates from 185 countries and uses the third dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP3) vaccine as a benchmark for immunization coverage.
The data reveals that progress in returning to pre-pandemic immunization levels has stalled. In 2023, global DTP3 coverage was 84%, unchanged from 2022 but still below the 86% recorded in 2019. The WHO’s news release indicated that this stagnation reflects ongoing challenges such as healthcare service disruptions, logistical issues, vaccine hesitancy, and inequities in access to healthcare services.
Despite these challenges, there have been some positive developments. Many African countries have made significant progress in vaccination coverage. Additionally, the report noted a 7% increase in HPV vaccine coverage among girls, approaching pre-pandemic levels. This vaccine is crucial as it can reduce cervical cancer rates in women by up to 87%.
However, the HPV vaccine coverage still falls short of the 90% target needed to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health issue, with only 56% coverage in high-income countries and 23% in low- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, measles vaccination coverage remains inadequate in countries with significant or disruptive outbreaks, leaving nearly 35 million children with no or only partial protection. This has contributed to outbreaks in 103 countries over the past five years.
The United States has also been affected, with 92% of American children vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella by age two in 2023, falling below the federal target of 95%. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the urgency of addressing measles outbreaks, describing them as indicators of broader immunization gaps and emphasizing that measles vaccines are affordable and can be delivered even in challenging environments.
The report also noted that over half of unvaccinated children in 2023 live in conflict-affected and vulnerable regions. While some conflict-affected countries, like Ukraine, saw initial drops in immunization rates without an overall decline, other regions, such as Sudan and parts of the Middle East, experienced more significant setbacks.
Dr. Ephrem Lemango, associate director for health and global chief of immunization at UNICEF, warned that until every country can ensure that all children are vaccinated, the risk of outbreaks, epidemics, and potential pandemics will remain high.
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