The number of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) in 2023 remained the same as in 2022, according to the latest data released by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).
This means that only 84 per cent of children worldwide received their third dose, while 14.5 million children did not receive any dose of the vaccine, the report said.
The lack of progress in increasing immunization coverage has been fueled by several challenges, including disruptions in healthcare services, logistical challenges, vaccine hesitancy, and inequities in access to services, the report said.
It also found that nearly 35 million children worldwide have no or only partial protection against measles, and 6.5 million children have not completed their third dose of the DTP vaccine, which is necessary to achieve disease protection in infancy and early childhood.
“The latest trends demonstrate that many countries continue to miss far too many children,” UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a press release. “Closing the immunization gap requires a global effort, with governments, partners, and local leaders investing in primary healthcare and community workers to ensure every child gets vaccinated, and that overall healthcare is strengthened.”
The report urged governments and other stakeholders to increase efforts to reach children who are still not vaccinated, including expanding access to vaccines through community outreach activities, improving communication strategies, and addressing vaccine hesitancy.