WHO lauds India for scaling up routine immunisation after dip in Covid
7 min readBy Express News Service
NEW DELHI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday lauded India for scaling up routine immunization protection and mentioned accelerated efforts should proceed.
Reacting to the reward, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya mentioned, “Intensify Routine Immunization! India recorded 93% DPT3 coverage in 2022, surpassing the pre-pandemic all-time high of 91% in 2019, & a rapid increase from 85% recorded in 2021.”
“We are leaving no one behind,” he tweeted.
The WHO South-East Asia Region complimented member nations, together with India, for scaling up childhood immunization protection to pre-pandemic ranges and referred to as for continued intensified efforts with a give attention to reaching the two.3 million un-vaccinated and 6,50,000 partially vaccinated youngsters.
Intensifying Routine Immunization!
India recorded 93% DPT3 protection in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic all time excessive of 91% in 2019, & a fast enhance from 85% recorded in 2021.
We are leaving nobody behind. https://t.co/ipNSOLXEir
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) July 18, 2023
The Region had the perfect immunization recoveries amongst all different Regions, which may be majorly attributed to efforts being made by India and Indonesia, mentioned Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia.
“Every child deserves to be protected against life-threatening diseases with routine immunization vaccines. The momentum built with impressive efforts and immunization service recoveries must continue to benefit every child for a healthy and productive life,” she mentioned.
The WHO and UNICEF on Tuesday got here out with a brand new report. The report on the nationwide immunization protection for 2022 exhibits that within the WHO South-East Asia Region, the protection fee for DPT3, third dose of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccines which is used globally to evaluate vaccination charges, recovered to pre-pandemic 91%, a pointy enhance from 82% recorded in 2021.
The Region has additionally proven a six per cent enchancment in protection of the measles-containing vaccine in 2022 in comparison with 2021, shifting from 86% to 92%.
The variety of zero-dose youngsters i.e. those who haven’t obtained even the primary dose of the DPT vaccine halved from 4.6 million in 2021 to 2.3 million in 2022.
Similarly, the variety of partially vaccinated youngsters, those who had obtained not less than one dose of the DPT vaccine however didn’t full the first collection of three doses, diminished from 1.3 million in 2021 to 650 000 in 2022 – a 50% decline.
India recorded 93% DPT3 protection in 2022, surpassing the pre-pandemic all-time excessive of 91% in 2019, and a fast enhance from 85% recorded in 2021, she mentioned.
Indonesia’s DPT3 protection recovered to 85%, the identical as in 2019, however the nation recorded one of many sharpest recoveries from 67% in 2021.
The different nations that additionally improved their routine immunisation protection embody Bhutan with 98% and Maldives with 99% DPT3 protection, surpassing their pre-pandemic immunization charges.
Bangladesh with 98% and Thailand with 97% have demonstrated consistency in routine immunization protection all through the COVID-19 pandemic and past, she mentioned.
“While we draw lessons from the pandemic to strengthen our capacities to respond to future health emergencies, we must learn from countries that maintained their immunization rates even while responding to a pandemic,” she mentioned.
Sri Lanka with 98% protection, Nepal with 90% and Timor-Leste with 86% are nearer to pre-pandemic protection of 99%, 93% and 90% respectively. Myanmar with 71% DPT3 protection in 2022, is much from pre-pandemic 90% protection in 2019.
The joint report mentioned that international immunization companies reached 4 million extra youngsters in 2022 in comparison with the earlier 12 months, as nations stepped up efforts to handle the historic backsliding in immunization attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Much has been achieved, much needs to be done. While overall immunization coverage levels are looking good, and the progress is encouraging, there remain variabilities in the coverage at sub-national levels in countries, especially in those with large populations. The inequities in immunization coverage leading to the accumulation of pockets of unvaccinated children pose the risk of outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. These gaps must be closed,” Dr Singh mentioned.
“The countries and partner agencies must continue to scale up efforts to identify the unvaccinated children, strengthen the capacities of the health workforce, better understand and engage with vulnerable populations and roll out tailored strategies to reach every child with the lifesaving routine immunization vaccines,” she added.
The WHO in 2021 had urged member nations to scale up routine immunization together with Covid-19 vaccination. The DTP3 protection within the Region had dipped to 85% in 2020.
The variety of unvaccinated or partially vaccinated youngsters elevated to 4.9 million as towards 3 million in 2019. Surveillance of vaccine-preventable illnesses was additionally affected.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell nonetheless mentioned that beneath the “positive trend lies a grave warning.”
“Until more countries mend the gaps in routine immunization coverage, children everywhere will remain at risk of contracting and dying from diseases we can prevent. Viruses like measles do not recognize borders. Efforts must urgently be strengthened to catch up with children who missed their vaccination while restoring and further improving immunization services from pre-pandemic levels.”
The newest report mentioned that in 2022, 20.5 million youngsters missed out on a number of vaccines delivered via routine immunization companies, in comparison with 24.4 million youngsters in 2021. Despite this enchancment, the quantity stays increased than the 18.4 million youngsters who missed out in 2019 earlier than pandemic-related disruptions, underscoring the necessity for ongoing catch-up, restoration and system-strengthening efforts.
NEW DELHI: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday lauded India for scaling up routine immunization protection and mentioned accelerated efforts should proceed.
Reacting to the reward, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya mentioned, “Intensify Routine Immunization! India recorded 93% DPT3 coverage in 2022, surpassing the pre-pandemic all-time high of 91% in 2019, & a rapid increase from 85% recorded in 2021.”
“We are leaving no one behind,” he tweeted.googletag.cmd.push(perform() googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); );
The WHO South-East Asia Region complimented member nations, together with India, for scaling up childhood immunization protection to pre-pandemic ranges and referred to as for continued intensified efforts with a give attention to reaching the two.3 million un-vaccinated and 6,50,000 partially vaccinated youngsters.
Intensifying Routine Immunization!
India recorded 93% DPT3 protection in 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic all time excessive of 91% in 2019, & a fast enhance from 85% recorded in 2021.
We are leaving nobody behind. https://t.co/ipNSOLXEir
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) July 18, 2023
The Region had the perfect immunization recoveries amongst all different Regions, which may be majorly attributed to efforts being made by India and Indonesia, mentioned Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia.
“Every child deserves to be protected against life-threatening diseases with routine immunization vaccines. The momentum built with impressive efforts and immunization service recoveries must continue to benefit every child for a healthy and productive life,” she mentioned.
The WHO and UNICEF on Tuesday got here out with a brand new report. The report on the nationwide immunization protection for 2022 exhibits that within the WHO South-East Asia Region, the protection fee for DPT3, third dose of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccines which is used globally to evaluate vaccination charges, recovered to pre-pandemic 91%, a pointy enhance from 82% recorded in 2021.
The Region has additionally proven a six per cent enchancment in protection of the measles-containing vaccine in 2022 in comparison with 2021, shifting from 86% to 92%.
The variety of zero-dose youngsters i.e. those who haven’t obtained even the primary dose of the DPT vaccine halved from 4.6 million in 2021 to 2.3 million in 2022.
Similarly, the variety of partially vaccinated youngsters, those who had obtained not less than one dose of the DPT vaccine however didn’t full the first collection of three doses, diminished from 1.3 million in 2021 to 650 000 in 2022 – a 50% decline.
India recorded 93% DPT3 protection in 2022, surpassing the pre-pandemic all-time excessive of 91% in 2019, and a fast enhance from 85% recorded in 2021, she mentioned.
Indonesia’s DPT3 protection recovered to 85%, the identical as in 2019, however the nation recorded one of many sharpest recoveries from 67% in 2021.
The different nations that additionally improved their routine immunisation protection embody Bhutan with 98% and Maldives with 99% DPT3 protection, surpassing their pre-pandemic immunization charges.
Bangladesh with 98% and Thailand with 97% have demonstrated consistency in routine immunization protection all through the COVID-19 pandemic and past, she mentioned.
“While we draw lessons from the pandemic to strengthen our capacities to respond to future health emergencies, we must learn from countries that maintained their immunization rates even while responding to a pandemic,” she mentioned.
Sri Lanka with 98% protection, Nepal with 90% and Timor-Leste with 86% are nearer to pre-pandemic protection of 99%, 93% and 90% respectively. Myanmar with 71% DPT3 protection in 2022, is much from pre-pandemic 90% protection in 2019.
The joint report mentioned that international immunization companies reached 4 million extra youngsters in 2022 in comparison with the earlier 12 months, as nations stepped up efforts to handle the historic backsliding in immunization attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Much has been achieved, much needs to be done. While overall immunization coverage levels are looking good, and the progress is encouraging, there remain variabilities in the coverage at sub-national levels in countries, especially in those with large populations. The inequities in immunization coverage leading to the accumulation of pockets of unvaccinated children pose the risk of outbreaks of measles, diphtheria, and other vaccine-preventable diseases. These gaps must be closed,” Dr Singh mentioned.
“The countries and partner agencies must continue to scale up efforts to identify the unvaccinated children, strengthen the capacities of the health workforce, better understand and engage with vulnerable populations and roll out tailored strategies to reach every child with the lifesaving routine immunization vaccines,” she added.
The WHO in 2021 had urged member nations to scale up routine immunization together with Covid-19 vaccination. The DTP3 protection within the Region had dipped to 85% in 2020.
The variety of unvaccinated or partially vaccinated youngsters elevated to 4.9 million as towards 3 million in 2019. Surveillance of vaccine-preventable illnesses was additionally affected.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell nonetheless mentioned that beneath the “positive trend lies a grave warning.”
“Until more countries mend the gaps in routine immunization coverage, children everywhere will remain at risk of contracting and dying from diseases we can prevent. Viruses like measles do not recognize borders. Efforts must urgently be strengthened to catch up with children who missed their vaccination while restoring and further improving immunization services from pre-pandemic levels.”
The newest report mentioned that in 2022, 20.5 million youngsters missed out on a number of vaccines delivered via routine immunization companies, in comparison with 24.4 million youngsters in 2021. Despite this enchancment, the quantity stays increased than the 18.4 million youngsters who missed out in 2019 earlier than pandemic-related disruptions, underscoring the necessity for ongoing catch-up, restoration and system-strengthening efforts.
