Vaccinating children causes biggest setback in 30 years: UNICEF
- April 20, 2023
- 0
Some 67 million children they are over vaccinate in whole or in part between 2019 and 2021, resulting in lower enrollment rates immunization in 112 countries thanks to
Some 67 million children they are over vaccinate in whole or in part between 2019 and 2021, resulting in lower enrollment rates immunization in 112 countries thanks to COVID-19 pandemic, according to The State of the World’s Children 2023: Vaccination in Every Childhood report by UNICEF this Thursday on the occasion of World Immunization Week.
Except, Latin America and the Caribbean is experiencing one of the worst childhood basic vaccination crises in 30 years He warned that over the past decade it has “seriously” gone from one of the highest child immunization rates in the world to one of the lowest.
“The study shows that the Covid-19 pandemic is currently showing two hidden consequences: a decline and decline in confidence in vaccines, and a decline in immunization and access to it. a significant number of countries,” explained José María Vera, Executive Director of Unicef Spain.
About the absence trust Vaccines: Report shows public opinion on the importance of childhood vaccines has declined during the pandemic in 52 out of 55 countries analyzed.
The document thus shows that children born just before or during Covid-19 are over the age they should normally have received vaccines, which is why UNICEF is highlighting the need for “urgent” action to catch up. doses and prevent outbreaks of deadly diseases.
“Vaccines are one of the greatest success stories of mankind. they save between 4 and 5 million lives a year and played a vital role in reducing the infant mortality rate. We ask governments to reaffirm their commitment to vaccines because vaccines work,” Vera said.
Biggest failure in global immunization in 30 years
Thus, the organization warns that this is the biggest sustained decline in childhood immunization in the last 30 years, and recalled that the pandemic has interrupted childhood vaccination almost worldwide due to pressure on health systems, diversion of resources dedicated to immunization to vaccination against Covid-19, lack of medical personnel and containment measures At home.
In this sense, UNICEF insisted on the importance of “doubling commitment, increasing financing immunizations and prevent routine vaccination from becoming another victim of the pandemic.” If that happens, he warned, the “next wave of deaths” could be due to an increase in the number of children with measles, diphtheria or other preventable diseases.
“The resurgence of diseases that have been eradicated anywhere in the world could affect us,” said Lorena Kobas, UNICEF Emergency and Humanitarian Specialist.
For example, in 2022, the number of measles cases was more than double the total number of cases in the previous year. At the same time, the number of children paralyzed polio increased by 16 percent year on year in 2022. If the period from 2019 to 2021 is compared with the previous three years, the number of children affected paralysis increased eightfold due to polio, highlighting the need to ensure the continuity of vaccination efforts.
Latin America and the Caribbean
The vaccination rate in Latin America and the Caribbean is 75%, below the global average of 81% and slightly above East and South Africa (74%). In the region, coverage with the “third dose” of the combined diphtheria vaccine tetanus And choking cough in infants under one year of age, it was 75% in 2021, after falling 18% from 93% in 2012, according to data compiled in the statement.
The UNICEF study also highlights that “one of 4 boys and girls” do not receive essential immunizations, “setting immunization coverage rates back to almost 30 years ago”.
Some 2.4 million babies children under the age of one in Latin America lack essential vaccines, according to WHO and UNICEF data for 2021, a “worrisome” situation for the region.
Of these 2.4 million children, 1.7 million do not have the vaccine, which is known as “zero dose“- while the remaining 700,000 do not have a full vaccination schedule, according to those Unicef figures.
But this recent UNICEF study provides new data: children from the poorest families almost three times more be “zero dose” than those who are richer.
Children “Zero dose”
Of the 67 million children who missed full or partial routine immunizations between 2019 and 2021, 48 million missed none of their routine vaccinations—a factor also known as “zero dose.” At the end of 2021 Indian and Nigerian (both countries with very high fertility data) had the largest number of children at zero dose, although the increase in the number of boys and girls at zero dose was particularly marked in Burma And Philippines.
Children who receive no doses live in the poorest, most remote and marginalized communities that are sometimes affected by conflict. New data prepared for the report International Center for Health Equity show that in the poorest households, 1 in 5 children receive a zero dose, while in the richest, only 1 in 20.
The report concludes that unvaccinated children often live in hard-to-reach areas such as rural areas or urban slums. Often their mothers cannot go to school and their opinion is not taken into account when making family decisions.
These problems are exacerbated in low- and middle-income countries, where about 1 in 10 children in urban areas receive zero dose compared to 1 in 6 in rural areas. In high- and middle-income countries, the gap between urban and rural children is virtually non-existent.
According to UNICEF, in order to vaccinate the entire child population, it is “necessary” to strengthen primary health care (PC) and provide frontline health workers, mostly women, with the resources and support they need. The report notes that women are at the forefront of vaccination but face low wages, irregular employment, a lack of formal training and career opportunities, and threats to their security.
For all these reasons, the report calls on governments to urgently identify all children, especially those who were not vaccinated during the pandemic, and provide them with vaccines; increase demand for vaccines, including through confidence-building; prioritize funding for immunization services and primary health care, and build sustainable health systems by investing in women health workers, innovation and local production.
(According to Europa Press and EFE)
Source: Aristegui Noticias
As an experienced journalist and author, Mary has been reporting on the latest news and trends for over 5 years. With a passion for uncovering the stories behind the headlines, Mary has earned a reputation as a trusted voice in the world of journalism. Her writing style is insightful, engaging and thought-provoking, as she takes a deep dive into the most pressing issues of our time.
