On July 15, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) released the ‘WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage (WUENIC)‘, which provides estimates of national immunisation coverage for vaccinations against 14 diseases. It stating that India’s national immunization program missed 1.6 million (16 Lakh) children for DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus) and measles shots in 2023.
- With this data, India had the second highest number of children who received no vaccines at all i.e. zero-dose children, 1.6 million in 2023, following Nigeria with 2.1 million.
- The report also flagged India as one of 52 nations not including HPV (Human Papillomavirus) vaccination in their immunization package, despite cervical cancer being a significant concern for women in the country.
Assessment:
The report was based on data from member states reporting to WHO and UNICEF up to July 1, 2024. It utilized the 2024 World Bank Development Indicators Online and the United Nations Population Division, 2024 revision.
Highlights – Indian Scenario:
i.Over 350,000 children missed measles and DPT vaccines in 2023, despite catch-up campaigns by the Central Government.
ii.The 1.6 million zero-dose children in 2023 represented a 45% increase from 1.1 million in 2022, yet lower than the pandemic years (2019, 2020).
- The national program missed 2.5-3.4 million children for DPT and measles vaccines in 2020, improved in 2021 and 2022, but declined again in 2023.
iii.India is among the ten countries with the highest number of zero-dose children, alongside Nigeria, Congo, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Pakistan.
- Over 50% of zero-dose children globally are concentrated in seven countries: Nigeria, India, Ethiopia, Congo, Sudan, Indonesia, and Yemen.
iv.India accounts for 55% of children globally without measles vaccines, with a vaccination coverage rate between 90-94% in 2023.
Challenges:
i.Logistical issues, misinformation about vaccines, and weaknesses in healthcare systems contribute to low measles vaccination rates in India.
ii.Government initiatives are vital to improving vaccination services, delivery systems, and healthcare accessibility to raise vaccination rates and protect children from preventable diseases.
Global Scenario
i.In 2023, global coverage of the third dose of the DTP3 vaccine stagnated at 84%.
ii.The number of zero-dose children increased to 14.5 million in 2023 from 12.8 million in 2019.
iii.Coverage of the first dose of the Measles-Containing Vaccine (MCV1) stalled at 83%, with 22.2 million children missing the vaccine, falling short of the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks and achieve elimination goals.
iv.The South-East Asia Region, including India, saw a 2% drop in DTP1 coverage, with nearly 3.5 million under-vaccinated children.
v.27 countries had DTP1 coverage below 80%, predominantly in Latin America, the Caribbean, West and Central Africa, and the Middle East and North Africa.
vi.In 2023, 107 countries (55%) achieved at least 90% coverage, down from 125 countries in 2019.
Vii.The report calls for the need to accelerate efforts to meet the Immunisation Agenda 2030 (IA2030) targets of 90 per cent coverage, and no more than 6.5 million ‘zero-dose’ children globally by 2030.
Note: There has been substantial growth in HPV vaccine coverage among adolescent girls, particularly in countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance at Geneva, Switzerland.
Recent Related News:
i.The WHO released its annual report titled “2023 Antibacterial agents in clinical and preclinical development: an overview and analysis”. The report evaluates the pipeline of antibacterial agents, including antibiotics, in clinical and preclinical development across the world. According to the report, 84% of antibacterial Research and Development (R&D) is mainly concentrated in high-income countries.
ii.Globally, 1 in 4 children (27%) are living in severe child food poverty in early childhood, this amounts to around 181 million children under 5 years of age. Child food poverty is measured using the UNICEF and WHO dietary diversity score.
About World Health Organization (WHO):
Director-General– Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
Establishment– 1948
About United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF):
Executive Director– Catherine Russell
Headquarters– New York, United States
Establishment– 1946
