World

UNICEF: 12.7 million children in Africa missed vaccinations in three years

Nearly 13 million children missed one or more vaccinations in Africa between 2019 and 2021 because of the disruptive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the continent vulnerable to even more outbreaks of disease and facing a “child survival crisis,” a new report from UNICEF said Thursday.
Amid a global “backslide” in childhood immunization over those three years, which the United Nations Children’s Fund said is the worst regression for childhood vaccinations in 30 years, Africa is the region with the highest number of unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children.
UNICEF said that 12.7 million African children missed one or more vaccinations and 8.7 million didn›t receive a single dose of any vaccine from 2019-2021..In Nigeria, 2.2 million children have never received a vaccination. In Ethiopia, 1.1 million are unvaccinated against diseases.UNICEF›s report comes as Africa, but also other parts of the world, report disease outbreaks.
In the southern African nation of Malawi, more than 1,000 people died in a cholera outbreak at the start of the year, the worst there in 20 years. Nearly 700 children died in a measles outbreak in Zimbabwe last year. Most of the Zimbabwean children were unvaccinated against the disease, authorities said.
UNICEF said the “intense demands on health systems, the diversions of immunization resources to COVID-19 vaccination, health worker shortages and stay-at-home measures” all contributed to missed vaccinations across the world. So did conflicts, climate change and vaccine hesitancy.
But in Africa, the pandemic exposed and exacerbated the “lack of resilience and persistent weaknesses in health systems and primary health care,” UNICEF said.Last year, 34 of the 54 countries in Africa experienced disease outbreaks such as measles, cholera and poliovirus, UNICEF said, adding there›s a «child survival crisis» on the continent.The resurgence of those diseases should serve as a clear warning for Africa, said Mohamed M. Fall, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa.
“African leaders must act now and take strong political action to reduce the gap in vaccination and make sure that all children are immunized and protected,” he said.UNICEF noted that children born just before or during the pandemic were now moving past the age when they would normally be vaccinated and stressed the need for health authorities to “catch up» with those missed vaccinations to prevent more deadly disease outbreaks.

TDG Network

Share
Published by
TDG Network

Recent Posts

North India under severe cold wave, Holidays extended in several states

A severe cold wave is gripping North India, bringing dense fog, heavy rains, and freezing…

13 minutes ago

Moon Added to List of Threatened Heritage Sites, Says WMF Chief

Most of the WMF list includes sites in conflict zones, such as Ukraine and Gaza,…

13 minutes ago

Blast at Congress leader’s residence: Bajwa seeks Mann’s resignation

After the RDX blast took place at the residence of Punjab Congress leader from Batala,…

22 minutes ago

“No One Is Safe in Mumbai Anymore,” Says Congress Leader Bhupesh Baghel Amid Attack on Saif Ali Khan

The shocking incident at Saif Ali Khan’s residence, which took place in the early hours…

26 minutes ago

Calcutta HC slams Bengal Govt for using expired saline; Mamata blames doctors

Hours after the Calcutta High Court pulled up the Mamata Banerjee Government for not taking…

33 minutes ago

Priyanka Chopra Mourns LA Wildfire Losses, Calls for Aid for Victims

The wildfires have ravaged large portions of the LA area, igniting in Pacific Palisades and…

57 minutes ago