Global childhood immunization levels will stagnate in 2023

ABC, es

Ginebra.-New data reveals that nearly 3 in 4 children live in countries where low vaccination coverage is the cause of measles epidemics: “Many remain without vital protection.”

According to data released by WHO and UNICEF, global immunization coverage has stagnated in 2023, leaving 2.7 million more children unvaccinated or under-vaccinated than at pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

The latest WHO/UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage (WUENIC) – providing the world’s largest and most comprehensive dataset on immunization trends for immunizations once morest 14 diseases – underscore the need for continued efforts to adapt, catch up and strengthen the system.

“The latest trends show that many countries are still failing to vaccinate too many children,” said Catherine Russell, UNICEF Director-General. “Closing the vaccination 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 to strengthen overall health care.”

According to the data, the number of children who received three doses of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine in 2023 – a key indicator of global immunization coverage – stood at 84% (108 million). However, the number of children who did not receive a single dose of the vaccine increased from 13.9 million in 2022 to 14.5 million in 2023.

More than half of unvaccinated children live in the 31 countries in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable contexts, where children are particularly vulnerable to preventable diseases due to disruptions and lack of access to security, nutrition and health services. In addition, 6.5 million children have not completed the third dose of DTP vaccine, necessary to achieve protection once morest diseases in early childhood.

These trends, which show that global vaccination coverage has remained virtually unchanged since 2022 and – even more alarmingly – has not yet returned to 2019 levels, reflect ongoing challenges related to health service disruptions, logistical difficulties, vaccine hesitancy and inequalities in access to services.

Low vaccination coverage underpins measles outbreaks – data also shows that vaccination rates once morest the deadly measles disease have stagnated, leaving nearly 35 million children unprotected or only partially protected.

In 2023, only 83% of children worldwide received the first dose of measles vaccine through routine health services, while the number of children receiving the second dose increased modestly from the previous year, reaching 74% of children. These numbers fall short of the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks, avoid unnecessary illness and death, and achieve measles elimination goals.

Over the past five years, measles outbreaks have affected 103 countries, home to regarding three-quarters of the world’s children. Low vaccination coverage (80% or less) was a major factor.

In contrast, 91 countries with strong measles vaccination coverage had no outbreaks. “Measles outbreaks are an early warning sign, exposing and exploiting vaccination gaps and affecting the most vulnerable first,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“This is a solvable problem. Measles vaccine is cheap and can be administered even in the most difficult settings. WHO is committed to working with all our partners to help countries fill these gaps and protect the most at-risk children as quickly as possible.”

Global coverage of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among girls has increased substantially. New data also point to some positive aspects in vaccine coverage. The continued introduction of new and underused vaccines, including HPV, meningitis, pneumococcal, polio and rotavirus vaccines, continues to expand the breadth of protection, especially in the 57 countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. For example, the percentage of adolescent girls who received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, which protects once morest cervical cancer, increased from 20% in 2022 to 27% in 2023.

This was largely due to strong roll-outs in Gavi-supported countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia and Nigeria. The use of the single-dose HPV vaccine regimen also contributed to the increase in vaccination coverage. “The HPV vaccine is one of the highest-impact vaccines in Gavi’s portfolio and it is incredibly encouraging that it is now reaching more girls than ever before,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

“With vaccines now available to more than 50% of eligible girls in African countries, we still have much work to do, but today we can see that we have a clear path to eliminating this terrible disease.” However, HPV vaccine coverage is far from the 90% target to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem, reaching only 56% of adolescent girls in high-income countries and 23% in low- and middle-income countries.

A recent survey of more than 400,000 users of UNICEF’s digital platform for young people, U-Report, found that more than 75% do not know or are unsure what HPV is, highlighting the need to improve vaccine accessibility and public awareness.

When informed regarding the virus, its link to cancers and the existence of a vaccine, 52% of respondents said they would like to receive the HPV vaccine but were prevented from doing so by financial constraints (41%) and lack of availability (34%). While modest progress has been made in some regions, such as Africa and low-income countries, the latest estimates highlight the need to accelerate efforts to meet the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Immunization (AI2030), which calls for 90% coverage and no more than 6.5 million “zero-dose” children worldwide by 2030.

The IA2030 Partnership Council calls for increased investment in innovation and continued collaboration. The institution also recommends that partners step up support for national leadership to improve routine immunization as part of their integrated primary care programs, backed by strong political support, community leadership and sustainable financing.Vatican News.