[ad_1]
<! – 
PHOTO FILE: Measles outbreak ->
Unicef
According to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 169 million children would not have received the first dose of measles vaccine between 2010 and 2017, an average of 21.1 million per year.
UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said on Thursday at the commemoration of World Immunization Week, which is celebrated every year from 24 to 30 April.
According to her, the widening of unvaccinated children's pockets has paved the way for measles outbreaks that are hitting several countries around the world.
"The field for the measles outbreaks we have seen today was laid years ago; the measles virus will always find unvaccinated children.
"If we really want to prevent the spread of this dangerous but preventable disease, we have to vaccinate all children in rich and poor countries," she said.
The director said two doses of the measles vaccine were essential to protect children from the disease.
However, due to lack of access, poor health systems, complacency and, in some cases, fear or skepticism about vaccines, the global coverage of the first dose of measles vaccine has has been reported at 85% in 2017.
According to her, this figure has remained relatively constant over the last decade despite population growth.
"The global coverage for the second dose is much lower at 67%; the World Health Organization recommends a 95% coverage threshold to achieve what is known as group immunity.
"In high-income countries, while coverage with the first dose is 94%, coverage for the second dose falls to 91%, according to the latest data.
"The United States tops the list of high-income countries with the largest number of children having not received the first dose of the vaccine between 2010 and 2017, with more than 2.5 million of people.
"Next come France and the United Kingdom, with more than 600,000 and 500,000 unvaccinated infants, respectively, during the same period.
"In low- and middle-income countries, the situation is critical.
"In 2017, for example, Nigeria had the largest number of children under one year old who had not received the first dose, nearly 4 million.
"It is followed by India (2.9 million), Pakistan and Indonesia (1.2 million each) and Ethiopia (1.1 million).
"Global coverage levels of the second dose of measles vaccines are even more alarming.
"Of the 20 countries with the largest number of unvaccinated children in 2017, nine have not introduced the second dose.
"Twenty countries in sub-Saharan Africa have not introduced the second dose needed into the national immunization schedule, putting 17 million infants a year at increased risk of contracting measles as children," he said. Mr. Fore.
She said that UNICEF, in partnership with the Measles and Rubella Initiative and Gavi, the Vaccines Alliance, was helping to deal with this measles crisis by negotiating prices for measles. vaccine. the cost of measles vaccine is now at its lowest level.
She added that the partnership would help countries identify underserved areas and unaffected children; procuring vaccines and other immunization supplies.
"We also support additional vaccination campaigns to fill gaps in routine immunization coverage.
"Collaborate with the countries concerned to introduce the second dose of measles vaccine into the national immunization schedule; Cameroon, Liberia and Nigeria are in the process of doing so by 2019.
"Finally, we are introducing innovations such as the use of solar energy and mobile technologies to keep vaccines at the right temperature.
"Measles is far too contagious. It is essential not only to increase coverage, but also to maintain vaccination rates at the right doses to create an umbrella of immunity for all, "Fore said.
Related
[ad_2]
Source link