“Global Childhood Immunization Rates Not Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels”

Four years have passed since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the global childhood vaccination rate has not yet recovered to the level of 2019 before the pandemic. This is what the health and medical webzine ‘Health Day’ reported on the 15th (local time) based on a joint statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

“These trends show that many countries continue to miss out on too many children,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a press release announcing the data. “A global effort is needed to close the immunization gap, including by governments, partners and local leaders investing in primary health care and community workers to ensure all children are vaccinated and strengthening overall health care,” Russell said.

This report, which reflects vaccination coverage rates in 2023, is the world’s largest dataset on vaccination trends for 14 immunizations. It analyzes estimates for 185 countries, using the third dose of DTP vaccine (DTP3) to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) as a global indicator of vaccination coverage.

Globally, DTP3 coverage will reach 84% in 2023, the same as in 2022 but lower than the 86% recorded in 2019. “This trend shows that global immunization coverage will not change significantly after 2022 and, more surprisingly, is still not back to 2019 levels,” WHO said. “This reflects ongoing challenges of health service disruptions, logistical challenges, vaccine mistrust and inequalities in access to services.”

The WHO said there were some positives, with many African countries making the biggest progress in vaccination coverage. The report also found that human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage among girls increased by 7%, returning to pre-pandemic levels. Studies have shown that the HPV vaccine can reduce cervical cancer rates in women by up to 87%.

According to WHO, HPV vaccination coverage is still well below the 90% target to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem: 56% of adolescent girls in high-income countries and 23% in low- and middle-income countries.

What’s significant about the report is that it found that countries that have experienced large outbreaks or disruptions since the pandemic had too low measles vaccination rates to control further outbreaks. Nearly 35 million children were either unprotected or only partially protected against measles, which is “worrisome,” the report said.

Low vaccination rates have fueled measles outbreaks in 103 countries over the past five years, the report found. The United States is no exception. By 2023, 92% of U.S. children would have been vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella by age 2, falling short of the federal goal of 95%.

“Measles outbreaks are like canaries in the coal mine, exposing and exploiting gaps in immunization coverage, hitting the most vulnerable first,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “This is a solvable problem, given that the measles vaccine is affordable and can reach even the most vulnerable. WHO is committed to working with all partners to support countries to close this gap and protect the most at-risk children as quickly as possible.”

Still, more than half of the unvaccinated children in 2023 will live in countries affected by conflict and fragility. Countries like Ukraine, which is at war, have seen initial declines in vaccination rates, but overall, there has been no decline. But in other regions, such as Sudan and parts of the Middle East, this has not been the case.

The report can be found at the following link: