Nine out of ten babies around the world received vaccines in 2017
Around 123 million children under one year of age worldwide, 9 out of 10, received at least one dose of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine in 2017, protecting them from these infectious diseases that can cause disability or death, according to the most recent immunization estimates of the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
Undoubtedly, immunization is a fundamental element of solid primary health care and universal health coverage provides a point of contact for medical care at the beginning of life, according to the World Health Organization , which offers all children the opportunity for a healthy life from the beginning.
Since 2015, the percentage of children who received their full cycle of three doses of routine immunization against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (DTP3) remains at 85 percent (116.2 million infants).
Although the global immunization coverage against the three diseases remains at 85 percent due to the growth of the world population, it is important to note that 4.6 million additional children have been vaccinated against these diseases worldwide in 2017 compared to 2010
It is also important to note that, although coverage in the African region remains at 72 percent since 2010 for these diseases, the regional population growth meant that, to maintain the same level of coverage, about 3.2 million more of children had to be vaccinated in 2017.
Towards universal coverage
However, to achieve universal immunization coverage, it is estimated that 20 million additional children should be vaccinated with these three diseases, 45 million need to be vaccinated with a second dose of measles vaccine and 76 million more have to be immunized with 3 doses of conjugated pneumological vaccine.
Of the 19.9 million children who are not fully vaccinated with DTP3, almost 8 million (40 percent) live in fragile environments or in need of humanitarian assistance, including those residing in countries affected by wars. Approximately 5.6 million of them live in just three countries: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan, where access to routine immunization services is critical to achieving and sustaining the eradication of polio.
In 2017, ten countries had DTP3 or one dose of measles vaccine (MCV1) less than 50 percent: Angola, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic and Ukraine .
Levels of global immunization coverage
Globally, 85 percent of children have been vaccinated with the first dose of measles vaccine in their first year of life through regular health services and 67 percent with a second dose.
Nearly 170 countries have included a second dose of the measles vaccine as part of their routine vaccination schedule. However, coverage levels are still much lower than 95 percent of the measles vaccination coverage recommended by the World Health Organization to prevent outbreaks, prevent deaths and achieve regional goals of eliminating the disease.
In addition, 162 countries now use rubella vaccines and global coverage increased from 35 percent in 2010 to 52 percent in 2017, representing 25 million children vaccinated in 2017 compared to 2010.
This is a big step to reduce the incidence of congenital rubella syndrome, a devastating condition that causes spontaneous abortions, hearing loss, congenital heart defects and blindness, among other lifelong disabilities.
The newly available vaccines are being added as part of the life-saving vaccine package, such as those to protect against meningitis, malaria and even Ebola.
Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the most common viral infection in the reproductive tract and can cause cervical cancer, other types of cancer and genital warts in both men and women. In 2017, the HPV vaccine was introduced in 80 countries.
On the other hand, vaccines to prevent against the main diseases that cause the death of children such as rotavirus, a disease that causes severe childhood diarrhea, and pneumonia have existed for more than a decade.
But the use of conjugate vaccines against rotavirus and pneumococcus (PCV) is lagging behind. In 2017, the global coverage was only 28 percent for rotavirus and 44 percent for pneumococcus. Vaccination against these two diseases has the potential to substantially reduce the deaths of children under 5 years of age, a goal that is found in the Sustainable Development Goals .
Data collection
The World Health Organization and UNICEF continue to collect disaggregated data on immunization coverage at the subnational level.
Of the 194 reporting countries, 141 reported on subnational coverage, covering about 24,000 districts and approximately two-thirds of the world's child population. These data will help shed more light on geographical disparities in access to vaccines.
Countries must continue to strengthen their health systems by adding new vaccines to their national immunization programs. It is also crucial that countries ensure that all children have access to vaccination and fully complete their recommended vaccination series.
Achieving high and equitable coverage requires specific actions at the subnational level and guaranteeing access to vaccination for vulnerable populations. Both the World Health Organization and UNICEF continue to intensify their efforts to help countries improve the quality and use of coverage data at the subnational level in order to take measures to achieve high and equitable immunization coverage.
