More than 180 countries are taking part in World Immunisation Week this week, it was announced yesterday.
The World Health Organisation says different regions are focusing on different aspects of vaccination.
In Europe campaigners are seeking to reach vulnerable groups while in Africa the week is centred on the eradication of polio.
WHO says this is the first year the week has become truly global.
In three regions, the Americas, Europe and the Western Pacific, more than 90 per cent of children undergo some kind of immunisations.
It says there are ten countries that represent 70 per cent of the 19 million infants who did not have a full course of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine. These include Pakistan, South Africa, India, Indonesia and Iraq.
Dr Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele, of WHO, said: “Vaccines have the power not only to save, but also to transform lives – giving children a chance to grow up healthy, go to school and improve their life prospects.
"The benefits of immunisation aren’t only for children. Vaccination offers protection to adolescents and adults against life-threatening diseases such as influenza, meningitis, and cervical cancer."
Today there is set to be a launch of a major new global plan to reduce measles deaths and prevent rubella causing damage to pregnant women.
WHO warns that measles has recently come "roaring" back after progress in vaccination faltered – following false scares about vaccination. This led to major outbreaks in Africa, Asia, Europe and the eastern Mediterranean.
In 2010 nearly half the world’s measles’ deaths took place in India.
Anthony Lake, director of Unicef, said: “Recent measles outbreaks have affected children in the world unevenly, with the poorest and youngest children the most at risk of death or disability.
“This new Strategic Plan stresses that measles and rubella vaccinations must be delivered to children deep in the poorest and hardest to reach communities.”
WHO director general Dr Margaret Chan said: “A three-quarters drop in measles deaths worldwide shows just how effective well-run vaccination programmes can be. Now we need to take the next logical step and vaccinate children against rubella, too."
* Figures published in The Lancet today show that deaths from measles worldwide fell by 74 per cent in the first decade of the 21st century. WHO had set a target for a 90 per cent reduction.
Leave a Reply