LONDON: Global efforts to immunize children against life-threatening diseases like measles and diphtheria have started to rebound in 2022 after a significant decline caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
However, the recovery remains uneven, as strong improvements in large lower-middle-income countries such as India and Indonesia mask ongoing challenges in smaller and poorer nations, stated the agencies in a joint statement released on Tuesday.
In 2022, approximately 20.5 million children missed out on one or more routine childhood vaccines, a decrease from 24.4 million children in 2021. Although progress has been made, these figures still exceed the 2019 count of 18.4 million children who were not fully protected.
These estimates encompass data from 183 countries, focusing on the administration of the three-dose diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination. The numbers include children who received no vaccines at all and those who missed any of the necessary doses for protection.
Globally, vaccine coverage rates stood at 86% before the pandemic and decreased to 84% in 2022.
While WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the numbers as “encouraging,” concerns were raised about the most vulnerable populations being left behind. Ghebreyesus stated, “When countries and regions lag, children pay the price.”
Children Vaccination During Pandemic
Out of the 73 countries that experienced significant declines in routine immunization coverage during the pandemic, 34, including Angola and Syria, have shown no improvement or have worsened since then. Fifteen countries have returned to pre-pandemic levels, and 24 are on the path to recovery, according to the WHO and UNICEF.
The agencies also expressed alarm that measles vaccinations have not rebounded as rapidly. In 2022, 21.9 million children globally missed their first measles dose, an increase of 2.7 million compared to 2019. Additionally, 13.3 million children missed their second dose. Low-income countries experienced a further decline in measles coverage rates to 66%, compared to 67% in 2021, warned Kate O’Brien, WHO head of immunization. Measles outbreaks are already on the rise.
“When children are not vaccinated, that means they are not immune to life-threatening diseases,” O’Brien emphasized in an interview with Reuters. “Children are going to die.”
Only the rates of HPV vaccination, which prevents cervical cancer, have returned to pre-pandemic levels. However, they remain below the 90% target, at 67% in high-income countries and 55% in low and middle-income countries where the vaccine has been introduced.
Earlier this year, the WHO and UNICEF, in collaboration with Gavi, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other partners, launched an initiative to support countries in catching up on childhood vaccinations.
