New york: In 2024, 89% of infants globally - about 115 million - received at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP)-containing vaccine, and 85% -- roughly 109 million - completed all three doses, according to new national immunisation coverage data released today by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF. Compared to 2023, around 171,000 more children received at least one vaccine, and one million more completed the full three-dose DTP series. While the gains are modest, they signal continued progress by countries working to protect children, even amid growing challenges.
According to Emirates News Agency, nearly 20 million infants missed at least one dose of the DTP-containing vaccine last year, including 14.3 million 'zero-dose' children who never received a single dose of any vaccine. This figure is 4 million more than the 2024 target needed to stay on track with Immunization Agenda 2030 goals and 1.4 million more than in 2019, the baseline year for measuring progress. "Vaccines save lives, allowing individuals, families, communities, economies, and nations to flourish," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. He added that while the increase in vaccinations is encouraging, significant challenges remain, including drastic cuts in aid and misinformation about vaccine safety, which threaten to undo decades of progress. WHO is committed to working with partners to support countries in developing local solutions and increasing domestic investment to reach all children with vaccines.
Children often remain un- or under-vaccinated due to a mix of factors, such as limited access to immunisation services, disrupted supply, conflict and instability, or misinformation about vaccines. Data from 195 countries show that 131 countries have consistently reached at least 90% of children with the first dose of the DTP vaccine since 2019, but there has been no significant movement in expanding this group. Among countries that reached less than 90% in 2019, only 17 managed to increase their coverage rates in the past five years. Meanwhile, in 47 countries, progress is stalling or worsening, including 22 countries that achieved and surpassed the 90% target in 2019 but have since declined.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell expressed concern, stating, 'The good news is that we have managed to reach more children with life-saving vaccines. But millions of children remain without protection against preventable diseases, and that should worry us all.' She emphasized the need for urgent action to overcome barriers like shrinking health budgets, fragile health systems, misinformation, and access constraints due to conflicts, asserting that no child should die from a preventable disease.