PHL AMONG COUNTRIES WITH BIG NUMBER OF DTP-UNVAXXED

THE Philippines is among the countries in the world with the highest number of unvaccinated children against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) last year, according to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (Unicef).

Data from the World Health Organization and Unicef showed there were 1.048 million children in the Philippines who missed out on three doses of vaccine against DTP in 2021 alone, rising from 630,000 in 2020 and 650,000 in 2019.

Unlike the past two years, there were no DTP undervaccinated infants in the country recorded last year. under vaccinated children in the Philippines in terms of DTP reached 73,000 in 2019 and 48,000 in 2020.

Likewise, the percentage of children who received the vaccine doses against Dtp3—considered a marker for immunization coverage within and across countries —plunged to 57 percent, matching the coverage rate in 1984 and the lowest level in 38 years since 1983’s 55 percent.

Across the world, Unicef said global vaccination continued to decline last year, with 25 million children missing out on one or more doses of DTP through routine immunization services, 2 million higher than the figure in 2020 and 6 million more than in 2019. According to Unicef, this shows the growing number of children at risk from devastating but preventable diseases.

Of the 25 million children, 18 million did not receive even a single dose of DTP during the year, with the vast majority of them living in low- and middle-income countries: with India (3.389 million), Nigeria (3.296 million), Indonesia (1.459 million), and Ethiopia (1.323 million), and the Philippines, recording the highest numbers.

Global coverage of DTP3 last year also fell from 86 percent in 2019 to 81 percent in 2021—its lowest level since 2008, Unicef said.

“This is a red alert for child health. We are witnessing the largest sustained drop in childhood immunization in a generation. The consequences will be measured in lives,” said Catherine Russell, Unicef Executive Director. “While a pandemic hangover was expected last year as a result of Covid-19 disruptions and lockdowns, what we are seeing now is a continued decline. Covid-19 is not an excuse. We need immunization catch-ups for the missing millions or we will inevitably witness more outbreaks, more sick children, and greater pressure on already strained health systems.”

Vaccine coverage also dropped in every region, with the East Asia and Pacific region recording the steepest reversal in DTP3 coverage, falling nine percentage points in just two years from 92 percent in 2019 to 83 percent in 2021.

The decline in global vaccination was attributed to several factors, including an increased number of children living in conflict and fragile settings, increased misinformation, and Covid-19 related issues such as service and supply chain disruptions, resource diversion to response efforts, and containment measures that limited immunization service access and availability.

To address the decline in vaccination coverage for children, Unicef is urging governments to intensify efforts for catch-up vaccination to address backsliding on routine immunization, expand outreach services in underserved areas to reach missed children, and implement campaigns to prevent outbreaks, among others. It also recommended implementing strategies to build trust in vaccines and immunization, counter misinformation and increase vaccine uptake, particularly among vulnerable communities.