UNICEF's 2023 report reveals India has 1.6 million 'zero dose children', ranking second after Nigeria. This marks a setback from previous progress in vaccination coverage.
Coimbatore: India has been identified as having the second-highest number of children who did not receive any vaccinations in 2023, according to a recent UNICEF report. With 1.6 million "zero dose children," India follows Nigeria, which tops the list with 2.1 million unvaccinated children.
This revelation comes as a setback for India, which had previously been commended for its catch-up campaigns. In 2022, the country had successfully reduced the number of unvaccinated children to 1.1 million from 2.7 million in 2021. However, the latest UNICEF report on immunization coverage places India among ten countries that collectively account for 59% of the world's "zero dose children."
The report, titled "Progress and Challenges with Achieving Universal Immunization Coverage," is based on data reported by member states to WHO and UNICEF up to July 1, 2024. It also incorporates information from the 2024 World Bank Development Indicators Online and the United Nations Population Division's 2024 revision.
Globally, the number of completely unvaccinated children has increased by 600,000, from 13.9 million to 14.5 million, which is 1.7 million higher than in 2019. The total number of un- and under-immunized children stands at 21 million in 2023, 2.7 million above the baseline value.
India also ranks third in the number of "measles zero dose children" with 1.6 million, following Nigeria (2.8 million) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (2 million). This statistic is particularly concerning given the measles outbreaks reported in several Indian states in 2022, including Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, and Delhi.
The global proportion of children receiving the first dose of the measles vaccine was 83% in 2023, significantly lower than the 86% recorded in 2019. This decline in vaccination coverage poses a serious threat to public health, particularly in developing countries.
In response to these challenges, India had launched Mission Indradhanush in 2014 to cover all children who were either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases. However, the recent UNICEF report suggests that more concentrated efforts are needed to improve vaccination coverage and protect children from preventable diseases.
This revelation comes as a setback for India, which had previously been commended for its catch-up campaigns. In 2022, the country had successfully reduced the number of unvaccinated children to 1.1 million from 2.7 million in 2021. However, the latest UNICEF report on immunization coverage places India among ten countries that collectively account for 59% of the world's "zero dose children."
The report, titled "Progress and Challenges with Achieving Universal Immunization Coverage," is based on data reported by member states to WHO and UNICEF up to July 1, 2024. It also incorporates information from the 2024 World Bank Development Indicators Online and the United Nations Population Division's 2024 revision.
Globally, the number of completely unvaccinated children has increased by 600,000, from 13.9 million to 14.5 million, which is 1.7 million higher than in 2019. The total number of un- and under-immunized children stands at 21 million in 2023, 2.7 million above the baseline value.
India also ranks third in the number of "measles zero dose children" with 1.6 million, following Nigeria (2.8 million) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (2 million). This statistic is particularly concerning given the measles outbreaks reported in several Indian states in 2022, including Maharashtra, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Kerala, and Delhi.
The global proportion of children receiving the first dose of the measles vaccine was 83% in 2023, significantly lower than the 86% recorded in 2019. This decline in vaccination coverage poses a serious threat to public health, particularly in developing countries.
In response to these challenges, India had launched Mission Indradhanush in 2014 to cover all children who were either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against vaccine-preventable diseases. However, the recent UNICEF report suggests that more concentrated efforts are needed to improve vaccination coverage and protect children from preventable diseases.