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Almost a crore and a half children worldwide didn’t receive a single dose of vaccination this year marking the rise in the number of unvaccinated children globally by 1.7 lakh, according to a United Nations report. The UN noted that the access to vaccines remained profoundly unequal around the world and that the conflict and humanitarian crises derailed vaccination processes in the affected countries such as Sudan.
Also Read: India Has The Second Highest Number Of Unvaccinated Children: Lancet
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UN Calls For Equity In Vaccination Access
According to National Immunisation Coverage Data released by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, 89 percent of infants worldwide, or approximately 11.5 crore, received at least one dose of the vaccine that contains diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP), and 85 percent, or approximately 10 crore , completed all three doses.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, "Vaccines save lives, allowing individuals, families, communities, economies, and nations to flourish." "Although there is still much to be done, it is encouraging to see a steady rise in the number of children receiving vaccinations. Decades of progress could be undone by severe aid cuts and false information regarding vaccine safety. WHO is still dedicated to collaborating with our partners to help nations create local solutions and boost domestic funding so that all children can benefit from the life-saving potential of vaccines."
There is a catch though, nine countries account for almost half of the total unvaccinated children in the world. The stat not only highlights the disparity in unequal access to vaccines but demands for countries around the world to come together and collaborate, The UN officials added.
Also Read: Who Needs A Measles Booster Shot And When Is The Right Time?
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India Secord Worst After Nigeria
According to the recent report, India still has the second-highest rate of unvaccinated children worldwide, despite advancements in the healthcare sector over the past few decades. According to the study, India is the country with the second-highest number of unvaccinated children, after Nigeria, and has 14.4 lakh children with "zero dose." The stats also suggested that nine countries, including Ethiopia, Nigeria, India, and a few other Asian and African nations, were home to "half of the world's unvaccinated children."
Bottomline
Due to a variety of reasons, including restricted access to immunisation services, interrupted supply, conflict and instability, or false information regarding vaccines, children frequently continue to be unvaccinated or undervaccinated. A child died of measles in a Liverpool hospital last week, while the United States is currently experiencing its worst measles outbreak in over thirty years.
The WHO and UNICEF have urged governments and stakeholders to:
- Close the funding gap for the next strategic cycle (2026–2030) in order to protect millions of children in lower-income countries and ensure global health security, given the alarming number of children who are not vaccinated;
- Boost vaccination in fragile and conflict areas to reach more children who have not received a dose and stop the spread of fatal diseases;
- To close equity gaps, give priority to domestic investment and local-led initiatives that firmly integrate vaccination into primary healthcare systems;
- Use evidence-based strategies to combat false information and boost vaccination uptake even more;
- To direct high-impact immunisation programs, make investments in more robust data and disease surveillance systems.