Category: Vaccine

On both dates, the clinics will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Vaccines that will be available at both clinics inlude DTap, Tdap, Hep B, Polio, Kinrix, MMR, Varicella and COVID-19. For more information, staff at the Family and Community Resource Center (FCRC) can be reached at 559-730-7566.

Read more:

VUSD partners with County for student vaccine distribution - Foothills Sun Gazette

The Marshall-Harrison County Health District (MHCHD) is set to host its annual Back to School Vaccine clinic from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, July 29 and Tuesday, July 30.

The event will be held at the MHCHD facility, located at 805 Lindsey Drive. During the event, MHCHD will offer free vaccines for children ages four years to eighteen years old who qualify under the Texas Vaccines for Children (TVFC) Program. All vaccines will be given on a walk-in basis with no appointment needed. A parent or guardian must be present and bring the childs vaccine record.

According to Jennifer Hancock, Executive Director, anyone wishing to have their children vaccinated prior to the Back to School Vaccine event may do so during MHCHDs normal operating hours.

We host this event annually to help parents or guardians beat the back to school rush for vaccines in August, explained Hancock.

The first 50 children to receive their age appropriate vaccines will receive a new backpack and school supplies.

We will also have a photo booth for anyone who would like to take a cute picture of their kids, stated Hancock.

Although the Marshall-Harrison County Health District is only able to provide vaccines at no charge for children who qualify through the TVFC program, anyone may bring their childs vaccine record and have MHCHD staff review it at no charge.

We offer this service to help parents know if their child is missing any vaccines that are needed prior to the start of school, stated Hancock. Its not just incoming kindergarten students who may be due for a vaccine.

In conjunction with the vaccine event, MHCHD is also hosting a school supply drive and asks the community to partner with them in providing the much-needed school supplies for the event.

We are often asked how others can join us in our service to the community. This year we are seeking school supplies for all ages including pencils, glue sticks, crayons, markers, Kleenex, highlighters, and wide ruled paper to be given out to kids who attend the clinic, explained Hancock.

Anyone wishing to donate school supplies may drop them off at the MHCHD office at 805 Lindsey Drive or email media@mhchd.org for more information about specific supplies needed.

For more information about recommended vaccines for both adults and children, please contact providers office or call the Marshall-Harrison County Health District at (903) 938-8338.

Continued here:

Marshall-Harrison County Health District to host 'Back to School Vaccine' clinic - Marshall News Messenger

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) Health workers in Ivory Coast began giving children the latest malaria vaccine on Monday, the beginning of a regional campaign that experts hope might curb the impact of one of Africas top killers.

The West African country became the first to start rolling out the newest shot targeting malaria in an effort that aims to cover about 250,000 children under two. The three-dose vaccine known as R21/Matrix-M was developed by Britains Oxford University and was authorized by the World Health Organization last October.

Research suggests it is more than 75% effective at preventing severe disease and death in the first year and that protection is extended for at least another year with a booster.

Alice Kanga was one of many who brought their children to get vaccinated Monday. Its really important for the children, for their health, she said.

In 2021, WHO endorsed the first malaria vaccine, known as Mosquirix, made by GSK. But that vaccine requires four doses and protection fades within months. GSK also previously said it would only be able to make about 15 million doses.

But Indias Serum Institute has already made 25 million doses of the Oxford vaccine and says it plans to make at least 100 million every year, at a cost of about $4 per dose.

More than 94% of the worlds roughly 249 million malaria cases and 608,000 deaths every year are in Africa. The parasitic disease is spread by mosquitoes and most often strikes children under five and pregnant women.

Pierre Demba, Ivory Coasts health minister, said the malaria vaccination launch was an indication of the governments commitment to invest in the countrys children.

They are the future of our country, he said.

Adrian Hill of Oxford University said in a statement that the Ivory Coast roll-out marks the start of a new era in malaria control, adding that he hoped the shot would soon be available to all countries in Africa who wanted to use it.

Still, because malaria vaccines dont stop the spread of the disease, experts have long warned that other measures like insecticide spraying, improved treatments and the use of bed nets will still be critical.

The Gavi vaccine alliance, which helps poor countries buy vaccines, said other countries including the Central African Republic, Chad and South Sudan have also received supplies of the Oxford-developed shot.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

See the original post:

A 'new era' in malaria control has begun with a vaccination campaign for children in Ivory Coast - The Associated Press

Global childhood immunization coverage stalled in 2023, leaving 2.7million additional children un- and under-vaccinated compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, according to data published today by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

The latest WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage (WUENIC) which provide the worlds largest and most comprehensive dataset on immunization trends for vaccinations against 14 diseases underscore the need for ongoing catch-up, recovery and system-strengthening efforts.

The latest trends demonstrate that many countries continue to miss far too many children, said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. Closing the immunization gap requires a global effort, with governments, partners, and local leaders investing in primary healthcare and community workers to ensure every child gets vaccinated, and that overall healthcare is strengthened.

According to the findings, the number of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) in 2023 a key marker for global immunization coverage stalled at 84% (108million). However, the number of children who did not receive a single dose of the vaccine increased from 13.9million in 2022 to 14.5million in 2023.

More than half of unvaccinated children live in the 31 countries with fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable settings, where children are especially vulnerable to preventable diseases because of disruptions and lack of access to security, nutrition, and health services.

Additionally, 6.5million children did not complete their third dose of the DTP vaccine, which is necessary to achieve disease protection in infancy and early childhood.

These trends, which show that global immunization coverage has remained largely unchanged since 2022 and more alarmingly has still not returned to 2019 levels, reflect ongoing challenges with disruptions in healthcare services, logistical challenges, vaccine hesitancy and inequities in access to services.

The data further show that vaccination rates against the deadly measles disease stalled, leaving nearly 35million children with no or only partial protection.

In 2023, only 83% of children worldwide received their first dose of the measles vaccine through routine health services, while the number of children receiving their second dose modestly increased from the previous year, reaching 74% of children. These figures fall short of the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks, avert unnecessary disease and deaths, and achieve measles elimination goals.

Over the last five years, measles outbreaks hit 103 countries home to roughly three-quarters of the worlds infants. Low vaccine coverage (80% or less) was a major factor. In contrast, 91 countries with strong measles vaccine coverage did not experience outbreaks.

Measles outbreaks are the canary in the coalmine, exposing and exploiting gaps in immunization and hitting the most vulnerable first, said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. This is a solvable problem. Measles vaccine is cheap and can be delivered even in the most difficult places. WHO is committed to working with all our partners to support countries to close these gaps and protect the most at-risk children as quickly as possible.

The new data also highlight some brighter spots in immunization coverage. The steady introduction of new and under-utilized vaccines, including for human papillomavirus (HPV), meningitis, pneumococcal, polio and rotavirus disease, continue to expand the breadth of protection, particularly in the 57 countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

For example, the share of adolescent girls globally who received at least 1 dose of the HPV vaccine, which provides protection against cervical cancer, increased from 20% in 2022 to 27% in 2023. This was largely driven by strong introductions in Gavi-supported countries, such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Nigeria. The use of the single-dose HPV vaccine schedule also helped boost vaccine coverage.

"The HPV vaccine is one of the most impactful vaccines in Gavis portfolio, and it is incredibly heartening that it is now reaching more girls than ever before, said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. With vaccines now available to over 50% of eligible girls in African countries, we have much work to be done, but today we can see we have a clear pathway to eliminating this terrible disease.

However, HPV vaccine coverage is well below the 90% target to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem, reaching only 56% of adolescent girls in high-income countries and 23% in low- and middle-income countries.

A recent poll of over 400000 users of UNICEFs digital platform for young people, U-Report, revealed that over 75% are unaware or unsure of what HPV is, underscoring the need for better vaccine accessibility and public awareness. When informed about the virus, its link to cancers, and the existence of a vaccine, 52% of respondents indicated they want to receive the HPV vaccine but are hindered by financial constraints (41%) and lack of availability (34%).

While theres been modest progress in some regions, including the African region and low-income countries, the latest estimates highlight the need to accelerate efforts to meet the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) targets of 90% coverage, and no more than 6.5million zero-dose children globally by 2030.

The IA2030 Partnership Council calls for increased investment in innovation and ongoing collaboration. The council also recommends partners step up their support for country leadership to improve routine immunization as part of their integrated primary health care programmes, backed by robust political support, community leadership, and sustainable funding.

Based on country-reported data, the WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage (WUENIC) provide the worlds largest and most comprehensive dataset on immunization trends for vaccinations against 14 diseases given through regular health systems - normally at clinics, community centres, outreach services, or health worker visits. For 2023, data were provided from 185 countries.

The IA2030 is a global strategy endorsed by the World Health Assembly aiming to ensure everyone, everywhere, at every age benefits from vaccines for improved health and well-being by 2030. It focuses on increasing vaccine coverage, equity, sustainability and pandemic preparedness while promoting life-course immunization and integrating immunization with other health services.

Dedicated to the health and well-being of all people and guided by science, the World Health Organization leads and champions global efforts to give everyone, everywhere, an equal chance at a safe and healthy life. We are the UN agency for health that connects nations, partners and people on the front lines in 150+ locations leading the worlds response to health emergencies, preventing disease, addressing the root causes of health issues and expanding access to medicines and health care. Our mission is to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable.

About UNICEF UNICEF works in some of the world's toughest places, to reach the world's most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

For more information about UNICEF and its work, visit:www.unicef.org Follow UNICEF onTwitter,Facebook,InstagramandYouTube.

Read more:

Global childhood immunization levels stalled in 2023, leaving many without life-saving protection - World Health Organization (WHO)

LONDON

The world's second vaccine against malaria was launched on Monday as Ivory Coast began a routine vaccine program using shots developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India.

The introduction of the World Health Organization (WHO)-approved R21 vaccine comes six months after the first malaria vaccine, called RTS,S and developed by British drugmaker GSK, began being administered in a routine program in Cameroon.

Some 15 African countries plan to introduce one of the two malaria vaccines this year with support from the Gavi global vaccine alliance.

Ivory Coast has received a total of 656,600 doses of the Oxford and Serum shot, which will initially vaccinate 250,000 children aged between 0 and 23 months across the West African country. The vaccine has also been approved by Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic.

The rollout of a second vaccine is the latest milestone in the global fight against malaria and should help address a problem that emerged well before either of the two shots was launched: demand for them is likely to far outstrip supply for several years.

Experts say having safe and effective malaria vaccines is important to meet demand. The shot is meant to work alongside existing tools such as bed nets to combat malaria, which in Africa kills nearly half a million children under the age of five each year.

The Serum Institute of India, which manufactures the vaccine, has produced 25 million doses for the initial rollout of the shot and "is committed to scaling up to 100 million doses annually," the company said on Monday about the launch in Ivory Coast.

Serum said it is offering the vaccine for less than $4 per dose, in keeping with its aim to deliver low-cost vaccines at scale.

Results from a large trial in February showed the vaccine prevented around three-quarters of symptomatic malaria cases in young children the first year after they got the shots.

Experts told Reuters at that time that comparing the two malaria vaccines head-to-head was difficult because of the many variables involved in the trials, but overall their performance was similar a conclusion endorsed by WHO.

Read the original here:

Second malaria vaccine launched in Ivory Coast marks new milestone - Voice of America - VOA News

Cte dIvoire will become the first country to roll-out the new R21/Matrix-M vaccine with the first child vaccinated in Abidjan, marking a critical step and historic milestone in the global fight against malaria.

Every year 600,000 people die of malaria in Africa, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Children under five years of age make up at least 80% of those deaths. Although the number of malaria-related deaths has fallen from 3,222 in 2017 to 1,316 in 2020 in Cte d'Ivoire, the mosquito-borne disease kills four people a day, mostly small children, and "remains the leading cause of medical consultations, according to the Ministry of Health.

R21/Matrix-M was co-developed by the University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India, leveraging Novavaxs Matrix-M adjuvant technology. In December 2023, the WHO granted R21/Matrix-M prequalification status, following a rigorous regulatory process and clinical assessment. Trials also demonstrated that the vaccine was well tolerated, with a good safety profile, with injection site pain and fever as the most frequent adverse events.

In anticipation of the roll-out, the Serum Institute of India has manufactured 25 million doses of the vaccine and is committed to scaling up to 100 million doses annually. In keeping with its aim of delivering vaccines at scale and low cost, SII is offering the vaccine at less than $4 per dose. SIIs production capability means this highly effective and affordable, low-dose malaria vaccine can be manufactured at speed and scale, critical to stemming the spread of disease, as well as protecting the vaccinated.

Adar Poonawalla, SII CEO, says: 'Reducing the malaria burden is finally within sight. Todays start of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine roll-out marks a monumental milestone after years of incredible work with our partners at Oxford and Novavax.'

'At Serum, we believe that it is every persons right to have access to affordable and essential disease prevention. Thats why we have committed to producing 100 million doses of R21, which will protect millions of lives and alleviate the burden of this deadly disease for future generations.'

'We are thrilled to collaborate with our global partners and excited to continue playing a leading role in eliminating a disease that has been so challenging to beat.'

Todays vaccination signifies the culmination of years of dedicated research and manufacturing efforts by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India (SII) and is the start of a pivotal phase that could see many lives saved.

Professor Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University, says: 'The roll-out of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine marks the start of a new era in malaria control interventions with the high efficacy vaccine now accessible at a modest price and very large scale to many countries in greatest need. We hope that very soon this vaccine can be provided to all countries in Africa who wish to use it.'

A total of 656,600 doses have been received, which will initially vaccinate 250,000 children aged between 0 and 23 months across 16 regions of Cte d'Ivoire. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine has also been authorised by Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic.

R21 is the second malaria vaccine available in Sub-Saharan Africa following RTS,S.WHO expert reviews of data of the two available malaria vaccines, RTS,S and R21 shows that both vaccines are expected to have high public health impact. Wide implementation of the malaria vaccines, in conjunction with existing prevention methods like the use of bed nets, is expected to save tens of thousands of young lives each year.

Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, the Global Fund and others are working with countries on their plans for vaccine roll out as part of holistic malaria control and prevention plans. In total, 15 African countries are expected to introduce malaria vaccines with Gavi support in 2024, and countries plan to reach around 6.6 million children with the malaria vaccine in 2024 and 2025. Gavi and partners are working with more than 30 African countries that have expressed interest in introducing the malaria vaccine.

Dr. Sania Nishtar, Chief Executive Officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance said: 'Africa has borne the brunt of malaria for far too long, and Cte d'Ivoire has suffered more than most. With two safe and effective vaccines now available alongside other interventions, we have an opportunity to finally turn the tide against this killer disease.'

John Jacobs,President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax, says: 'The introduction of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine in Cte d'Ivoire marks a breakthrough in the fight to protect vulnerable children against a leading cause of death across the region, while reinforcing our mission to create innovative vaccines that improve public health. Novavax is proud of the contribution of our Matrix-M adjuvant in this vaccine and in making this moment possible, and value our continued collaboration with University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India, as well as the lifesaving work of WHO, Gavi and UNICEF.'

The extraordinary journey behind the vaccine has been captured in a new documentary, following the development, trials and manufacturing of R21/Matrix-M over several years. Due to be broadcast by the BBC on 22nd July (8pm BBC Two) following its premiere on PBS/NOVA The Battle to Beat Malaria tells the inside story of this historic breakthrough, revealing the decades of scientific research, as well asprovidingan intimate look at the scientists, medics, pharmaceutical engineers, and trial participants battling this deadly disease.Watch the trailer here.

Go here to see the original:

Cte dIvoire makes history as first nation to deploy R21/Matrix-M Malaria Vaccine - University of Oxford

Conflicts have hampered efforts to vaccinate children across the world, health leaders have warned, as new figures showed about 14.5 million children had not received a single immunisation dose.

More than half of the children live in countries where armed conflicts or other humanitarian crises had created fragile and vulnerable situations, according to data from the UN childrens agency, Unicef, and the World Health Organization.

The war in Sudan has led to a huge rise in numbers of unvaccinated children, from about 110,000 in 2021 to an estimated 701,000 last year. Yemen has 580,000 unvaccinated children, up from 424,000 three years ago.

In addition to the 14.5 million zero-dose children in 2023, 6.5 million children were under-vaccinated, meaning they had not received all their recommended doses.

Both figures were up from 2022, officials said on Monday, warning that despite progress in some regions, an international goal to halve the number of zero-dose children by 2030 was off-track.

Dr Katherine OBrien, the director of the WHOs immunisation and vaccines department, said: This puts the lives of the most vulnerable children at risk.

She said children in humanitarian settings also lack security, they lack nutrition, they lack healthcare, and are most likely as a result of those things to die from a vaccine-preventable disease if they get it.

Global vaccine coverage has yet to return to 2019s levels, before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted immunisation programmes. That year, 12.8 million children were classed as zero-dose and a further 5.5 million as under-vaccinated.

More than half of the worlds zero-dose children live in 10 countries, which officials said were a mix of those with large birth cohorts, weak health systems or both.

They include Nigeria, India, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Indonesia. In 2023, Sudan, Yemen and Afghanistan joined the list.

Douglas Hageman, Unicefs Sudan representative, said the countrys health system had collapsed during the war.

National vaccination coverage has plummeted from 85% before the war to around 50% currently, with rates averaging 30% in active conflict areas and as low as 8% in South Darfur, he said.

Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, rubella and polio were common, Hageman added.

Vaccinations in Yemen were alarmingly low, said Peter Hawkins, Unicefs representative in the country.

A combination of factors that have further worsened in recent years, including a lack of access to healthcare, vaccine hesitancy and worsening socioeconomic and political crisis, have exacerbated the situation, he said.

OBrien warned that misinformation circulating during the pandemic was continuing to reverberate in many countries, and is actually resulting in deaths.

The UN report said there had been a strong increase in coverage of the HPV vaccine, which can protect against cervical cancer, but it still needed to be introduced in 51 countries, including China and India.

The headline of this piece was amended on 15 July 2024 to better reflect the content of the article.

Read more here:

War is lead cause behind huge drop in global vaccinations, UN warns - The Guardian

Health

Share on Facebook Share on X Share by Email

Posted: July 15, 2024

More children were left out of critical vaccination drives for diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough last year as a rise in conflicts across the globe hindered the supply of life-saving shots mostly in strife-torn regions, the United Nations said on Monday.

About 14.5 million children worldwidefailed to get vaccinated in 2023, compared with 13.9 million a year earlier, according to UNestimates. The number, however, was lower than during the COVID-19 pandemic, when about 18 million children missed out on vaccination.

The UNalso said that an additional 6.5 million children failed to receive more than a single dose, meaning they were not fully protected.

The estimates are based on how many children received either the first dose or all three doses of the DTP vaccine, a staple shot that protects against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, also known as whooping cough.

In total, 84 per centof infants globally received their full course last year, below the necessary level to prevent disease outbreaks.

WATCH |Canada heading towardmajor measles outbreak without vaccine boost, models suggest:

Show more

War-hit countries in particular saw a big jump in the number of children who were not immunized in 2023, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) said at a press conference last week, ahead of releasing the data.

The biggest fall in vaccination coverage globally was in Sudan, which has been decimated by 15 months of civil war. It saw coverage rates fall to 57 per centin 2023 from 75 per centin 2022.

That meant nearly 701,000 children in Sudan were not vaccinated at all against killer diseases such as measles and diphtheria.

The data also suggested that vaccination rates against the deadlymeaslesdisease stalled, leaving nearly 35 million children with no or only partial protection.

In 2023, only 83 per centof children worldwide received their first dose of themeaslesvaccine through routine health services, while the number of children receiving their second dose modestly increased from the previous year, to 74 per cent of children. To prevent outbreaks of measles, 95 per centvaccination coverage is needed.

The number of children who failed to get immunized in the occupied Palestinian territories rose to 17,000 for the first nine months last year, based on data available until September, from 1,000 in 2021, the agencies said.

Sudan, Yemen and Afghanistan were all new entrants on the list of the 20 countries with the most unvaccinated or "zero-dose" children in 2023.

More than half of the world's unvaccinated children live in countries with fragile, conflict-affected or vulnerable settings, although these nations only make up 28 per centof the global birth cohort,UNICEF said.

There were some positives in the UNreport. For example, there were around 600,000 fewer zero-dosechildren across the African region in 2023 than in 2022, and coverage of the HPV vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer, also improved globally.Ukraine also saw an improvement despite its war with Russia.

Link:

Nearly 3 in 4 infants live where low vaccine coverage drives measles outbreaks: UN - CBC News

In a shocking development, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has been heard endorsing false conspiracy theories about childhood vaccinations. This emerged during a recently leaked call with third-party presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., himself a known distributor of vaccine misinformation.

In the video, Trump claims that vaccines given to protect infants against life-threatening diseases can cause sudden, radical changes in babies. "You see the baby all of a sudden starting to change radically," Trump asserts, echoing discredited anti-vaccine rhetoric.

During the conversation, Trump suggests Kennedy take action on the issue, although it's unclear what specific actions he was recommending. "I would love you to do something. And I think itll be so good for you and so big for you," Trump says, followed by an optimistic "Were going to win" the election, to which Kennedy responds affirmatively.

Also Read: RFK Jr apologises after posting video of phone call with Trump

The 98-second video, initially posted and then deleted by Kennedys son, Bobby Kennedy III, captures Trumps voice on a cell phone held by Kennedy. The call further fuels allegations from Biden supporters that Kennedy's campaign could act as a spoiler, ultimately benefiting Trump.

Trump's assertions include discredited ideas about vaccine doses, comparing the quantity of vaccines given to babies to that meant for horses. "When you feed a baby, Bobby, in vaccination, its like 38 different vaccines and it looks like its meant for a horse," Trump claims.

The spread of such misinformation has contributed to declining childhood vaccination rates in the United States, a trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Biden campaign quickly reacted to the leak. "Trump and his anti-vax bud Bobby are spreading dangerous conspiracy theories that threaten the lifesaving care that tens of millions of people depend on," Biden campaign spokesman Joe Costello said in a press release.

This incident raises significant concerns about the spread of vaccine misinformation and its impact on public health. The Trump-Kennedy conversation underscores the ongoing battle against vaccine conspiracies amid a global push for immunization and disease prevention.

See original here:

Babies change radically after vaccines,' Trump endorses vaccine conspiracy theory in a leaked video with RFK Jr - Hindustan Times

On July 15, WHO and UNICEF unveiled their latest national immunization coverage estimates (WUENIC), the most comprehensive dataset on vaccination trends against 13 diseases. The results are a mix of progress and urgent calls to action.

In 2023, an impressive 108 million children globally received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) a key marker for global immunization coverage. However, the data reveals a stark reality: 14.5 million missed all doses of DTP containing vaccine, putting them at grave risk of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. Even more concerning is that over half of these children live in fragile, conflict-ridden areas, where their vulnerability is compounded.

Worse still, 6.5 million children did not complete their follow-up DTP doses, and global immunization coverage of this critical core measure of programme performance has stagnated since 2022. The pandemic's impact lingers, with 600,000 more zero dose children in 2023, than 2022, and 1.7 million more than in 2019. This increase over pre-pandemic levels rises by 2.7 million when under-vaccinated children are also included. This stagnation in recovery and strengthening of coverage highlights the dire need to innovate, find locally impactful approaches, and most critically, enhance the political and social leadership that are the basis for intensified actions needed to meet the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) targets: 90% coverage and a 50% reduction in the number of zero-dose children (to no more than 6.5 million) by 2030.

The data on measles vaccine coverage is particularly alarming. Despite measles being a highly preventable disease, nearly 35 million children are still missing one or more doses of vaccine through routine immunization. These figures fall woefully short of what's needed to prevent outbreaks and deaths, underscoring the urgency of closing immunization gaps. The WUENIC estimates particularly highlight that the 91 countries without significant measles outbreaks in the past 5 years are at least 10 percentage points higher in their MCV1 coverage than the average coverage among the 103 countries that have suffered measles outbreaks. This hammers home the point that high routine immunization coverage of measles vaccine forms the foundation on which prevention of outbreaks is achieved, though that achievement often includes supplementary, gap-filling outreach efforts. These supplementary efforts are insufficient to fully avoid outbreaks, when the foundation of coverage through the routine delivery channel is lacking.

Yet, amidst this global stagnation, there are some bright areas, particularly in Africa. The region defied the odds increasing routine immunization coverage, with 1.5 million more children vaccinated with DPT vaccine than in 2019 and a fall in the number of zero dose children from 7.3 million in 2022 to 6.7 million in 2023. This progress, despite the challenges of a growing child population, reflects the growing national prioritization and focus on resilient immunization programmes.

WHO and UNICEF, alongside Gavi and other partners, are committed to the IA2030 strategy, aiming for universal vaccine access and disease prevention. Turning these goals into reality, means that countries must lead the charge.

Revitalizing immunization programmes, strengthening community-centered health systems, ensuring vaccine supply, and boosting demand through community engagement are critical components of success. Policy and resources should urgently prioritize routine immunization, particularly for measles, and focus on reducing zero-dose children.

The message is clear: the time is now for action, to secure a healthier future for all. The world cannot afford to wait any longer.

Global forum for vaccine sovereignty and innovation sets bold targets

On June 20 in Paris, the Global Forum for Vaccine Sovereignty and Innovation marked a significant step towards enhancing global immunization efforts. The event was hosted by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Government of France, and the African Union with Team Europe partners.

Gavi's 20262030 Investment Opportunity was launched at the event, aiming to start off the replenishment period through the coming months, in support Gavi 6.0 strategy for 2026-2030. The alliance ambitiously aims to vaccinate one billion children by 2030, a goal driven by the urgent challenges of climate change, economic instability, and global health crises. In this period, Gavi plans to support the use of malaria vaccine to vaccinate 50 million children and HPV vaccine to protect 120 million girls from cervical cancer, potentially saving 1.5 million lives.

To achieve this, Gavi seeks US$9 billion in new pledges out of the US$11.9 billion needed for the strategic period. Encouragingly, US$2.4 billion in new pledges wereannouncedat the launch event, including US$1.58 billion from the United States.

The forum also launched the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), a pioneering initiative to boost vaccine production in Africa. Developed by Gavi in collaboration with the African Union and Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, AVMA aims to create a robust vaccine ecosystem with strong regulatory frameworks and efficient procurement strategies. It is set to receive approximately US$1.2 billion in donor funding over the next decade to procure vaccines manufactured in facilities on the continent.

As the world rallies behind these initiatives, our collective efforts will be pivotal in achieving these historic milestones, ensuring that millions more children, adolescents and adults receive life-saving vaccinations, and strengthening global health resilience.

Next steps for the TB Vaccine Accelerator: a global push for novel TB vaccines

Following the impactful Second High-Level Meeting of the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council in late May, WHO is spearheading a collaborative effort to fast-track the development, approval, and use of innovative tuberculosis (TB) vaccines. WHOs Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals (IVB) and the Global TB departments alongside the Science division, are joining forces to bring countries and partners together to advance this critical mission.

In an exciting move, WHO has issued a call for proposals to support the TB Vaccine Accelerator secretariat. The Accelerator aims to unite key stakeholders across four pivotal areas: Vaccine Science and Research, Product Development and Manufacturing Policy, Financing and Access Strategy, and Country Readiness and Community Partnership. The goal is to establish robust, inclusive working groups, fostering both existing collaborations and new partnerships, particularly involving those from high TB burden countries.

Additionally, IVB has launched a call for experts to join a newly formed Technical Advisory Group focused on clinical and policy considerations for novel TB vaccines. Interested experts have until July 22 to apply, contributing their expertise, ideas and insights to this vital technical area. Preparations are also underway for country workshops anda2025 TB Vaccine Financing Conference. These efforts represent a significant step toward creating a cohesive and comprehensive strategy to assure that should TB vaccines for adolescents and adults be successfully developed, there is a pathway for these vaccines to be accessible, and equitably deployed with scale and speed.

Together with our partners we are eagerly looking forward to enabling the necessary steps, knowledge, and commitments across the entire value chain, working to accelerate the journey from vaccine development to widespread use, ultimately aiming to turn the tide on TB and save millions of lives.

As we conclude the first half of 2024, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a moment of reflection, as many of you may be taking some well-earned holiday time. Much has already been accomplished this year, and I look forward to reconnecting with our next update in September.

More:

Message by the Director of the Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals at WHO - June 2024 - World Health Organization (WHO)