Lafiya360 reports that the apex health bodies disclosed that globally, data show promising signs of immunization services rebounding in some countries, but, particularly in low-income countries, coverage still falls short of pre-pandemic levels putting children at grave risk from disease outbreaks.
They stated that in Nigeria, there has been improvement in the penta3 vaccine coverage (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Hepatitis B and Hib).
While reiterating its target of reaching 2.2 million zero dose children, that is, children who have not received any vaccine, the health bodies express confidence in the further recovery of Nigeria’s childhood immunization coverage which is currently underway through the big catch up, in line with global immunization catch up strategy.
They further disclosed that countries with steady, sustained coverage in the years before the pandemic have been better able to stabilize immunization services since, the data indicates. “For example, South Asia, which reported gradual, ongoing increases in coverage in the decade prior to the pandemic, has demonstrated a more rapid and robust recovery than regions that suffered longstanding declines, such as Latin America and the Caribbean.
“The African region, which is lagging behind in its recovery, faces an extra challenge. With an increasing child population, countries must scale up routine immunization services every year in order to maintain coverage levels,” it said.
They also revealed that global immunization services reached 4 million more children in 2022 compared to the previous year, as countries stepped up efforts to address the historic backsliding in immunization caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to data published by the organizations, in 2022, 20.5 million children missed out on one or more vaccines delivered through routine immunization services, compared to 24.4 million children in 2021. In spite of this improvement, the number remains higher than the 18.4 million children who missed out in 2019 before pandemic-related disruptions, underscoring the need for ongoing catch-up, recovery and system strengthening efforts.
The vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) is used as the global marker for immunization coverage. Of the 20.5 million children who missed out on one or more doses of their DTP vaccines in 2022, 14.3 million did not receive a single dose, so-called zero-dose children. The figure represents an improvement from the 18.1 million zero-dose children in 2021 but remains higher than the 12.9 million children in 2019.
The report stated: “Despite the devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2022, the Nigeria immunization programme has undertaken some exemplary efforts to boost childhood immunization coverage along with protecting the population from Covid-19.
“The 2022 WHO and UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage, WUENIC and admin data shows clear improvement of Penta3 coverage which is 62 per cent and 85 per cent respectively.”
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said: “These data are encouraging, and a tribute to those who have worked so hard to restore life-saving immunization services after two years of sustained decline in immunization coverage.
“But global and regional averages don’t tell the whole story and mask severe and persistent inequities. When countries and regions lag, children pay the price.”
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, added: “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.”
Dr Seth Berkley, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, said: “It is incredibly reassuring, after the massive disruption wrought by the pandemic, to see routine immunization making such a strong recovery in Gavi-supported countries, especially in terms of reducing the number of zero-dose children.
“However, it is also clear from this important study that we need to find ways of helping every country protect their people, otherwise we run the risk of two tracks emerging, with larger, lower middle-income countries outpacing the rest.”