Infant vaccination rates too low - WHO

Tuesday July 18th, 2017

About 10% of infants worldwide still have no contact with vaccination programmes, according to a new global analysis.

This represents some 12.9 million children who did not get their vaccinations last year, according to the World Health Organisation.

WHO said it was crucial that infants of this age receive their first dose of the DTP vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.

A further six million children were unable to complete the vaccination course after getting the first DTP dose, WHO said.

WHO warned of a lack of progress since 2010 in ensuring that children get vital immunisations. The percentage receiving the full course has stayed at 86% this year.

WHO said the problem of low coverage was in 64 countries. Four million of the affected children are in Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan while more than seven million are in countries paralysed by conflict.

The lowest rates of DTP vaccination are found in countries including Ukraine, Syria, South Sudan and the Central African Republic and Chad as well as Nigeria.

Dr Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele, from WHO, said: "Most of the children that remain un-immunized are the same ones missed by health systems.

"These children most likely have also not received any of the other basic health services. If we are to raise the bar on global immunisation coverage, health services must reach the unreached. Every contact with the health system must be seen as an opportunity to immunise."

Tags: Africa | Asia | Child Health | Flu & Viruses | World Health

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