- According to the most recent WHO and UNICEF immunization estimates, globally, 12.9 million infants, nearly 1 in 10, did not receive any vaccinations in 2016.
- WHO has said that the estimates highlight that infants have missed the first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine. Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) are three bacterial diseases that can be vaccinated against with a single shot.
- The WHO has observed that the percentage of children who received their full course of routine immunizations of DTP has stalled at 86%. This falls short of the global immunization coverage target of 90% set under Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP). GVAP is a framework to prevent millions of deaths by 2020 through more equitable access to existing vaccines for people in all communities.
- WHO has noted that all of the targets elimination of vaccine preventable diseases such as measles, rubella, and maternal and neonatal tetanus are behind schedule. The data points out that 85% of children have been vaccinated with the first dose of measles vaccine and 64% with second dose.
- WHO has repeatedly highlighted the importance of immunisation- it helps prevent illness, disability and death from vaccine-preventable diseases including cervical cancer, diphtheria, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, pneumonia, pertussis, polio, rotavirus diarrhoea, rubella and tetanus.
