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9mo ago

Global Childhood Immunization Rates Stagnate, Leaving Millions Vulnerable

UNICEF and WHO report shows vaccination coverage has not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, with significant gaps in conflict-affected regions.

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A government health worker administers polio drops to a child in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Sunday, Mar. 3, 2024. India eradicated polio more than a decade ago after successfully implementing a polio immunization programme adopted in 1995. (AP Photo/Mukhtar Khan)
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A Nepali paramedic prepares a dose of the measles-rubella vaccine as she gets ready to administer it during a nationwide vaccination campaign in Kathmandu, Nepal, in February.

Overview

  • In 2023, 14.5 million children did not receive any vaccines, an increase from 13.9 million in 2022.
  • Only 84% of children received three doses of the DTP vaccine, unchanged from 2022 and below the 2019 level of 86%.
  • Measles vaccination coverage remains critically low, with 35 million children lacking full protection.
  • Conflict-affected countries like Sudan, Yemen, and Afghanistan have seen drastic drops in immunization rates.
  • HPV vaccine coverage has improved, but still falls short of the 90% target needed to eliminate cervical cancer.