The progress in pediatric vaccinations are stalled: the vaccination objectives of the 2030 Agenda at risk

We are eroding 50 years of progress on children’s vaccinations with fake news. Millions of children around the world, even in industrialized countries, are returning to risk of preventable diseases due to a stall or worsen in vaccination coverage Against infections that – thanks to vaccines – could become a memory of the past.

The key numbers of the crisis in pediatric vaccinations

• From the 1980 to 2019children “without any dose of vaccine” had passed from 58.8 million to 14.7 million (75%reduction); during the pandemic, in 2021the “zero -dose” children climbed to 18.6 million

• 100 countries they saw a drop in coverage against measles since 2010

• In the High income countries, 21 out of 36 (including Italy) have seen a drop in coverage for basic vaccines

• Agenda 2030 objective: halve “zero doses” children compared to 2019 and reach the 90% of global coverage

These, in a nutshell, the data contained in an analysis published in the magazine Lancetan update on global estimates of pediatric routine vaccinations made, year by year, from 1980 to 2023. The study, which covers 204 countries and is based on over a thousand data collections, warns of the concrete possibility that the global immunization objectives desired by the 2030 agenda can now be compromised.

Routine pediatric vaccinations are one of the most effective and advantageous public health facilities from the point of view of health costs. In 50 years, children’s vaccines have averted the death of about 154 million children all over the world. The global coverage of pediatric vaccinations has made great strides: the number of children in the world that has not received a single dose of routine vaccines (i.e. that in the first year of life also missed the first dose of the antidifterite vaccine, tetanus and pertussis, which usually administered within the second month of age) dropped by 75%, going from 58.8 million in 1980 to 14.7 million in 2019.

However, this progress risks masking problems such as persistent inequalities in vaccination coverage And stagnant progressaggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the spread of disinformation campaigns on pediatric vaccinations.

In fact, in 2021, during the Covid era, the number of children “with zero dose” went up to a peak of 18.6 million; In addition, most of them are concentrated in the regions affected by conflicts and in those in which the resources intended for vaccinations are limited, in particular in sub -Saharan Africa.

Since 2010, vaccinations against measles have fallen in 100 of the 204 countries analyzed; while the coverage with at least a first dose against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, polio or tuberculosis fell into 21 of the 36 high -income countries analyzed (there is also Italytogether with Japan, France, United States and United Kingdom).

A large number of children remains vaccinated insufficiently or not vaccinated It is vulnerable to potentially lethal diseases such as polio, measles and diphtheria, while increasing the risk of epidemics that put the little ones at risk which, for health reasons or age limits, are not yet covered by these infections.

This situation implies that, to achieve some of the global immunization objectives envisaged by the 2030 agenda, such as halving the number of children vaccinated with zero doses compared to the 2019 levels and the achievement of 90% of global coverage for vital vaccines (for example three doses of vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), it will be necessary. make accelerated progress. Especially in the countries that are struggling with major challenges, such as southern Asia and sub -Saharan Africa.

Based on analysis, the disinformation on vaccines and the consequent Vaccinal hesitation They represent the most important new threat to progress on pediatric vaccinations. Equality and recovery of patient trust They will therefore be key aspects on which to build future vaccination campaigns.