A mother holds her baby and the Road To Health Booklet, which is a record of a child’s growth, immunisations, and health interventions. (Halden Krog/Spotlight)
Global childhood immunisation coverage stalled in 2023, with a decrease in South Africa. The report revealed a concerning number of zero-dose children in the country. Vaccination rates around the world have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, leaving millions of children at risk.
A marker used to measure immunisation coverage, DTP3, showed a global coverage stall at 84% in 2023, with a rise in unvaccinated children. South Africa experienced a decline in DTP1 and DTP3 coverage, along with a sharp drop in measles vaccine coverage.
Prof. Shabir Madhi highlighted potential data inaccuracies, emphasizing the need for more accurate reporting methods like national vaccine surveys. The implications of falling immunisation coverage are significant, posing health risks for children and increasing susceptibility to outbreaks.
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