Childhood vaccination coverage has seen significant progress since 1980, but a recent study published in The Lancet reveals a concerning slowdown in advancements over the past two decades. The research, which analyzed vaccination rates in 204 countries and territories from 1980 to 2023, highlighted a stagnation and wide variation in childhood vaccination coverage since 2010. The Covid-19 pandemic has further exacerbated existing challenges in immunization efforts.
The United States is currently facing a surge in vaccine skepticism, with measles cases reaching the highest numbers in over 30 years. A separate study warned that if current immunization levels are maintained, the country risks losing its measles elimination status. This resurgence comes amidst cuts in federal research funding, the appointment of vaccine critics to key advisory panels, and a fragmented immunization policy landscape.
The study’s authors caution that the stalled progress in vaccination coverage could hinder the World Health Organization’s global immunization goals for 2030. These goals include reducing the number of zero-dose children by half compared to 2019 levels and achieving 90% coverage for vaccines such as diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis. However, the study suggests that achieving these targets will require a significant acceleration in progress.
Researchers utilized statistical modeling approaches to estimate coverage for 11 childhood vaccinations, drawing data from a variety of sources including WHO-UNICEF forms and household surveys. While global vaccine coverage against diseases like diphtheria, tetanus, and measles doubled between 1980 and 2023, progress slowed significantly in the past decade. Challenges in reaching children in remote areas, conflict zones, and urban settings, coupled with rising vaccine hesitancy, have contributed to this slowdown.
The Covid-19 pandemic has further strained vaccination efforts, with global rates declining and the number of zero-dose children increasing. Low- and middle-income countries have been disproportionately affected, with over half of unvaccinated children residing in eight countries. The study underscores the need for significant progress to recover from the pandemic’s impact and work towards achieving global immunization targets.
Despite the progress made in vaccination coverage, the study’s authors acknowledge the challenges ahead. Factors like increasing population pressure, cuts in global immunization funding, and rising vaccine hesitancy pose risks to vaccination programs. The implications of failing to meet the WHO’s immunization targets are substantial, as successful immunization efforts are crucial in preventing the resurgence of infectious diseases.
