14.5 million missed on vital DTP vaccine globally in 2023: UN sounds alarm

Global childhood immunisation levels stalled in 2023 with a whopping 145 million kids missing out on the essential three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria tetanus and pertussis DTP vaccine according to a new report by the UN organisations on MondayThe report by the WHO and UNICEF provides estimates of national immunisation coverage WUENIC for vaccinations against 14 diseasesIt showed that 84 per cent 108 million children received three doses of the vaccine against DTP in 2023 However 145 million did not receive a single dose of the vaccine an increase from 139 million in 2022In addition 65 million children did not complete their third dose of the DTP vaccine the key to achieving disease protection in infancy and early childhoodldquoThe latest trends demonstrate that many countries continue to miss far too many childrenrdquo said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell in the reportFurther the report showed that vaccination rates against the deadly measles disease stalled About 35 million children did not receive the vaccine or only had partial protectionOnly 83 per cent of children worldwide received their first dose of the measles vaccine through routine health services in 2023 However the number of children receiving their second dose modestly increased from 2022 reaching 74 per cent of childrenThe report also blamed the low vaccination rate against measles for driving outbreaks in about 103 countries in the last 5 years On the other hand 91 countries with strong measles vaccine coverage did not experience outbreaks it notedldquoMeasles outbreaks are the canary in the coal mine exposing and exploiting gaps in immunisation and hitting the most vulnerable firstrdquo said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus WHO DirectorGeneralHe added that it ldquois a solvable problemrdquoThe report also highlighted improved immunisation coverage for human papillomavirus HPV meningitis pneumococcal polio and rotavirus disease in the 57 countries supported by Gavi the Vaccine AllianceIt noted that the share of adolescent girls globally who received at least 1 dose of the HPV vaccine which protects against cervical cancer increased from 20 per cent in 2022 to 27 per cent in 2023At the same time the HPV vaccine coverage reached only 56 per cent of adolescent girls in highincome countries and 23 per cent in lowand middleincome countries The target was 90 per cent to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problemThe 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 65 million lsquozerodosersquo children globally by 2030Also ReadNaegleria fowleri What is this braineating amoeba threatening Kerala and its potential risks in MumbaiThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever