WHO and UNICEF publish new data on immunisation coverage

Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF published new data around immunisation coverage. Overall, the number of countries reaching and sustaining 90% coverage of children with routine life-saving vaccinations has doubled since 2000.

The updated estimates showed that coverage of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis containing vaccines (DTP3) improved, but that there were also some improvements with some essential vaccines other than DTP. The number of children protected from hepatitis B is high worldwide and increasing steadily. While just 30% of children received three doses of vaccine against the viral disease in 2000, this rose to 82% in 2014, although more needs to be done to ensure that infants receive their birth dose within the first 24 hours of life.

Latest data show that worldwide 16% of all cancer cases are caused by infections, with this figure rising to almost 23% in developing countries. The four main cancer-causing infectious agents are hepatitis B (HBV) and C viruses, human papillomavirus (HVP) and helicobacter pylori which together are responsible for 1.9 million cases of cancer every year, mainly liver, cervix uteri and gastric cancer.

Currently, two safe and effective vaccines can prevent infection-related cancers: liver cancer with the HBV vaccine and cervical cancer with the HPV vaccine.

Read more about the updated immunisation coverage here, and more about the HBV and HPV vaccines here.

SOURCES

WHO and UICC's Advocacy campaign pages.

Tags Vaccination Immunisation Vaccines HBV WHO UNICEF

Last update

Friday 07 June 2019

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