Shocking: UNICEF Reveals 1.6 Million Children in India Left Unvaccinated in 2023 – A Dire Call to Action
In 2023, India recorded the second-highest number of children who did not receive any vaccines, with 1.6 million “zero-dose” kids, trailing Nigeria, which leads with 2.1 million unvaccinated children, according to a Unicef report. This data is drawn from the 2023 WHO/Unicef Estimates of National Immunisation Coverage (WUENIC), compiled from member states’ reports to WHO and Unicef as of July 1, 2024, and integrates information from the 2024 World Bank Development Indicators Online and the United Nations Population Division’s 2024 revision.
The report highlights that the global number of completely unvaccinated children increased slightly by 600,000 from the previous year, rising from 13.9 million to 14.5 million. This figure remains 1.7 million higher than that recorded in 2019. Additionally, some children start but do not complete their vaccination series, receiving a first but not a third protective dose of the DTP vaccine. The total of unvaccinated and under-immunised children globally reached 21 million in 2023, marking an increase of 2.7 million from the baseline value.
In terms of measles vaccinations, India ranks third with 1.6 million “measles zero-dose children,” following Nigeria with 2.8 million and the Democratic Republic of Congo with 2 million. These statistics place India among the top ten countries contributing to 55% of children globally without measles vaccines.
This disturbing trend underscores the urgent need for enhanced immunisation efforts to address the gaps and ensure broader vaccine coverage to protect children’s health worldwide.
Original Story https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/1-6-million-india-kids-didnt-get-any-vaccine-at-all-in-2023-says-unicef/amp_articleshow/111763725.cms
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