International

UN Warning of "Catastrophe" Due to Millions of Children Missing Routine Vaccinations

UN Warning of

The United Nations warned on Thursday of a risk of "absolute catastrophe" if the issue of millions of children worldwide missing their routine vaccinations due to the COVID-19 pandemic is not addressed quickly, especially as health restrictions to combat the virus are being lifted very rapidly. According to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, the pandemic deprived 23 million children globally last year of receiving the three doses of the standard DTP vaccine, which protects against three infectious diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. This figure is the highest recorded since 2009 and represents an increase of 3.7 million children compared to 2019.

Kate O’Brien, Director of the Immunization Department at WHO in Geneva, stated that "in 2021 we are facing the likelihood of absolute catastrophe" due to this situation. She explained that the significant increase in the number of children who missed their vaccinations on time is a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its repercussions, which forced authorities to redirect their resources and personnel towards COVID-19 efforts, while many healthcare services had to close their doors or reduce their operating hours. Furthermore, people who were allowed to move during periods without lockdowns were hesitant to do so for fear of contracting the virus.

The WHO official emphasized that the current situation is extremely serious, as there are children who have not received the vaccinations they are supposed to, thus exposing them to the risk of these infectious diseases. This coincides with a very rapid lifting of health restrictions meant to combat COVID-19, which, at the same time, limits the spread of several infectious diseases among children. O’Brien cited the outbreak of measles in Pakistan as an example.

O’Brien stressed that the combination of these two factors represents "the absolute catastrophe we are sounding the alarm about now, as we must act now to protect these children."

Moreover, the two UN agencies highlighted that 17 million children—most of whom live in conflict zones, remote areas, or impoverished neighborhoods lacking health infrastructure—likely did not receive any vaccine doses at all last year. UNICEF's Executive Director Henrietta Fore stated that these figures are "a clear warning sign. The COVID-19 pandemic and the disruptions it caused have resulted in the loss of valuable ground that we cannot afford to concede, and the consequences will manifest as deaths and a decline in the quality of life for the most vulnerable groups."

Fore noted that "the pandemic has worsened a situation that was already bad." According to data released on Thursday, the percentage of children worldwide receiving the annual DTP vaccine had not shifted from 86% for several years before dropping to 83% in 2020, the pandemic year. In terms of measles, a highly contagious disease requiring a vaccination coverage of at least 95% for control, only 71% of children received the second dose of the vaccine against this disease.

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