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Oral vaccination against measles: Last year, 25 million children worldwide missed important routine vaccinations
Photo: Mohammed Hamoud / Anadolu Agency / Getty Images
In 2021, routine childhood vaccinations fell more than at any time in the past 30 years: 25 million children missed at least one of the three DTP vaccinations last year, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund Unicef.
DTP is a combination vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis).
In addition to the corona pandemic, in which staff had to be withdrawn from routine vaccination programs in some countries, and problems in reaching children in conflict regions, the organizations also cite growing misinformation about vaccinations as reasons.
“This is an urgent warning for children's health.
We are witnessing the largest sustained decline in child immunization in a generation," said Unicef chief Catherine Russell.
"The consequences are measured in human lives." In 2021, around two million fewer children were vaccinated than in the previous year - and around six million fewer than in 2019. Overall, the proportion of children who received all three DTB vaccinations was dropped from 86 to 81 percent between 2019 and 2021.
Most children who missed DTP vaccinations lived in India, Nigeria, Indonesia, Ethiopia and the Philippines, according to Unicef and WHO.
On the other hand, Uganda and Pakistan managed to achieve high vaccination rates again last year.
Measles vaccinations also fell to just 81 percent worldwide, which is the lowest level since 2008. Vaccination against polio and HPV have also reached new lows in recent years.
About a month ago, Unicef drew attention to the malnutrition and malnutrition of children in a report.
According to the current report, the historic relapse in vaccinations is occurring against the background of rising rates of acute malnutrition.
A malnourished child already has a weakened immunity.
Missed vaccinations could lead to childhood illnesses quickly becoming fatal.
kry/dpa