India Records Highest Rise In Children Not Getting DTP Vaccine In 2020: UN

The UN noted with concern that 23 million children globally missed out on basic vaccines through routine immunisation services last year due to disruptions caused by COVID-19.

India recorded the greatest increase in the world in the number of children not receiving a first dose of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) combined vaccine in 2020, the UN has said, noting with concern that 23 million children globally missed out on basic vaccines through routine immunisation services last year due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UN children's agency UNICEF showed that 23 million children missed out on basic childhood vaccines through routine health services in 2020, the highest number since 2009 and 3.7 million more than in 2019. This latest set of comprehensive worldwide childhood immunisation figures, the first official figures to reflect global service disruptions due to COVID-19, show a majority of countries last year experienced drops in childhood vaccination rates. Concerningly, most of these up to 17 million children likely did not receive a single vaccine during the year, widening already immense inequities in vaccine access, it said, adding that most of these children live in communities affected by conflict, in under-served remote places, or in informal or slum settings where they face multiple deprivations including limited access to basic health and key social services.