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Immunization

India Must Remain Vigilant Against Polio, Reinforcing Immunisation Efforts

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Despite being declared polio-free in 2014, the recent detection of polio in a two-year-old child in Meghalaya highlights the importance of strengthening immunisation efforts in India. The country has made significant progress in eliminating diseases like polio and neonatal tetanus, largely due to its Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP). However, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to immunisation efforts, leading to a decline in overall vaccination coverage and a stagnation in global childhood immunisation rates.

Key Takeaways:

  • India must intensify efforts to strengthen immunisation against preventable diseases, including the introduction of new vaccines.
  • The Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) has played a crucial role in India's success in eliminating diseases like polio and neonatal tetanus.
  • Mission Indradhanush, launched in 2014, aimed to target children who missed routine vaccinations, resulting in a quantum jump in coverage.
  • Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, India managed to execute one of the largest vaccination drives in the world, with CoWIN playing a key role.
  • The pandemic led to disruptions in routine immunisation services, resulting in a decline in overall vaccination coverage, and a stagnation in global childhood immunisation rates.
  • The number of zero-dose children in India has risen from 1.1 million in 2022 to 1.6 million in 2023, highlighting the need to reinforce immunisation efforts.
  • India can build on the successes of Mission Indradhanush by expanding the range of vaccines, ensuring they reach underserved areas, and improving vaccine coverage through digital platforms like U-WIN.

Statistics:

  • 2.7 million un- or under-vaccinated children worldwide have been added since 2019 (UNICEF data).
  • Global DTP3 vaccine coverage remains stalled at 84% (UNICEF data).
  • Measles vaccination rates have not reached the 95% target necessary to prevent outbreaks (UNICEF data).
  • 1.6 million zero-dose children in India in 2023, up from 1.1 million in 2022.
  • Rs.35,000 crore allocated to vaccination efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources:

  • UNICEF data (no specific date mentioned)
  • "India launched MISSION INDRAHANUSH nationwide INDIA on 25th December 2014" (no specific date mentioned)
  • Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from HT Lucknow.

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