WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) 2023 released

Current Context : World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF released National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) 2023 report.

RELEVANT DATA

In World  :

• Childhood immunization coverage stalled in 2023, leaving 2.7 million children either unvaccinated or under-vaccinated.
• Over 50% of unvaccinated children live in the 31 conflict affected countries.

IN INDIA:

• In 2023, 6 million children missed crucial Diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (called DPT) and measles vaccinations.
• India lacks human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in national programs despite cervical cancer being second-highest cancer in women (18% of female cancers).
• India accounted for 2 million zero-dose children.
  • Zero-dose children are those that lack access to or are never reached by routine immunization services.

VARIOUS IMMUNISATION PROGRAMMES IN INDIA 

• Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) : Operational in India since 1985.
• Mission Indradhanush 2014 was launched as a special drive to vaccinate all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children, pregnant women under UIP.
  • So far 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women have been vaccinated.
• Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) 5.0, 2023 is a catch-up vaccination campaign for children up to 5 years of age and pregnant women, who were left out.
• 12 diseases covered: Diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis-B, pertussis, meningitis and pneumonia, Japanese encephalitis (JE) and measles-rubella (MR).