DPT3 Vaccination: Southeast Asian region has excelled in vaccination recovery following the havoc wreaked by the pandemic, as per World Health Organisation officials. It’s noteworthy that India also emerged as the biggest producer and supplier of Covid-19 vaccines during the pandemic. The WHO has shared the coverage rate of DPT3. The third dose of diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccines, in India rose to an all-time of 93% in 2022, marking a sharp increase. The pre-pandemic score in India was at 91 per cent, the WHO said.
National Immunisation Coverage for 2022
The WHO and UNICEF on July 18 released an estimate for national immunisation coverage in 2022 which suggested that in the WHO South-East Asia region, the coverage rate of DPT3 recovered to the pre-pandemic level of 90 per cent, a sharp increase from 82 per cent recorded in 2021. In 2022, the coverage rose to 93 per cent, showing a remarkable improvement. Meanwhile, the report also revealed that the region also witnessed a six per cent improvement in the coverage of the measles vaccine, rising to 92 per cent in 2022 from 86 per cent in 2021.
In another significant feat, the number of zero-dose children (those who have not received the first dose of DPT vaccine) halved to 2.3 million in 2022 from 4.6 million in 2021. The number of partially vaccinated children (those who have received at least one dose of the DPT vaccine) has also seen a reduction to 6,50,000 in 2022 from 1.3 million in 2021.
Southeast Asia tops recoveries
Southeast Asia region had the best immunisation recovering, topping all the other regions, as per Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia. She said the success can be credited to India and Indonesia, two Southeast Asian countries that heavily contributed to the cause.
Every child deserves to be protected against life-threatening diseases with routine immunisation, she said, adding that the current momentum built with a record number of vaccination will help every child lead a healthy and productive life.
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER