Vaccination Rates Stall Globally; Pakistan Ranks Second for Zero-Dose Children in South Asia

Vaccination Rates Stall Globally; Pakistan Ranks Second for Zero-Dose Children in South Asia
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A recent study published by the British medical journal Lancet reveals that childhood vaccination coverage has stagnated globally over the past two decades, leaving millions of children vulnerable to preventable diseases, Dawn E-Paper reported. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened this trend, causing millions more children to miss essential vaccines.

According to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023, more than half of the world’s 15.7 million unvaccinated children live in just eight countries, with 13% in South Asia. Pakistan ranks second after India in South Asia for the highest number of zero-dose children, with approximately 419,000 unvaccinated.

The study warns that without transformational improvements in vaccine equity and acceptance, global immunization targets for 2030 will not be met. The pandemic caused sharp declines in vaccine coverage, including for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, measles, polio, and tuberculosis vaccines.

Pakistan continues to face challenges including polio endemicity, vaccine hesitancy, misinformation, and security issues. Efforts like UNICEF’s recent donation of refrigerated trucks aim to support routine vaccinations, but accelerated progress is urgently needed to protect vulnerable children.