Millions of infants around the world did not receive any vaccinations against
diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) in 2016, leaving them at a serious and
high risk of these potentially fatal diseases, according to the latest
statistics unveiled Monday by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.
The most recent WHO and UNICEF immunization estimates show that about 12.9
million infants globally missed their first dose of DTP vaccine in 2016, of whom
6.6 million did not complete the full three doses of DTP immunization (DTP3).
"Most of the children that remain unimmunized are the same ones missed by health
systems," says Dr. Jean-Marie Okwo-Bele, director of the Immunization, Vaccines and
Biologicals at the WHO.
A Congolese child is vaccinated during an emergency campaign of vaccination against yellow fever in Kinshasa, DR Congo, July 20, 2016. /VCG Photo
A Congolese child is vaccinated during an emergency campaign of vaccination against yellow fever in Kinshasa, DR Congo, July 20, 2016. /VCG Photo
"These children most likely have also not received any of the other basic health
services. If we are to raise the bar on global immunization coverage, health
services must reach the unreached."
According to the new data, 130 of the 194 WHO member states have achieved and
sustained at least 90 percent coverage for DTP3 at the national level, which is
one of the targets set out in the Global Vaccine Action Plan.
However, an estimated 10 million infants need to be vaccinated in 64
countries, if all countries are to achieve at least 90 percent coverage. That
includes about four million living in just three countries, Afghanistan, Nigeria
and Pakistan, where access to routine immunization services are critical to
achieving and sustaining polio eradication.
Meanwhile, many middle-income countries are lagging behind in the introduction
of these newer and more expensive vaccines. These countries do not receive
external support and their health budgets are often insufficient to cover the
costs of purchasing these vaccines.
A child is receiving EV71 vaccination in Shanghai, China. /VCG Photo
A child is receiving EV71 vaccination in Shanghai, China. /VCG Photo
The WHO also highlighted inequalities in childhood immunization coverage in low-
and middle-income countries over the past 10 years, despite generally less
inequality now than 10 years ago.
"Immunization is one of the most pro-equity interventions around," says Dr. Robin
Nandy, Chief of Immunizations at the UNICEF. "Bringing life-saving vaccines to the
poorest communities, women and children must be considered a top priority in all
contexts."
According to the WHO, immunization currently prevents between two to three million infants from dying every year, from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and measles, which is one
of the most successful and cost-effective public health interventions.