Whereas over 9 million youngsters acquired all three of their first vital vaccine doses towards diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) of their first yr of life within the WHO European Area in 2023, one other half one million missed a number of of those preliminary vital steps towards full safety, in response to WHO/UNICEF protection estimates.
According to world tendencies, the newly launched knowledge reveal solely partial restoration from dips attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic and enormous variations in immunization protection throughout the WHO European Area, each between international locations and between vaccines.
Some international locations have sustained excessive routine vaccination protection regardless of the challenges of the pandemic, whereas others are nonetheless struggling to regain pre-pandemic ranges of annual uptake, together with with DTP and measles-containing vaccines.
All 53 international locations within the Area – masking Europe and Central Asia – achieved 90% protection or above for at the very least one vaccine of their nationwide immunization schedules.
Uptake and/or introduction of different vaccines, together with towards human papillomavirus (HPV) and rotavirus, have elevated steadily at Regional degree lately.
“Vaccines are one of the crucial highly effective instruments we now have to avoid wasting lives and shield our futures,” stated Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “Final yr, many international locations made extraordinary progress in increasing vaccination protection, together with by way of catch-up campaigns to cease measles outbreaks. However we can’t cease at that. International locations should preserve strengthening their immunization programmes till we meet all of the targets set out within the European Immunization Agenda 2030.”
Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis
Whereas the European Area achieved the best protection with the primary dose of DTP (DTP1) among the many six WHO areas in 2023 with 97%, that is nonetheless 1% beneath the Area’s pre-pandemic degree of 98% in 2019 and represents a variety of 82-99% amongst international locations. Whereas 15 international locations within the Area achieved 99% protection with DTP1 in 2023, one other 24 international locations remained beneath their 2019 degree. For the third dose (DTP3), 25 of 53 international locations achieved protection of ≥95% nationally, whereas 30 are nonetheless beneath their pre-pandemic ranges. Protection ranged from 73% to 99%. Eleven international locations noticed a lower and 9 efficiently elevated DTP3 protection from 2022 to 2023.
Measles and rubella
Protection with the primary dose of a measles-containing vaccine (MCV1 – typically the mixed measles-mumps-rubella vaccine) elevated by one proportion level from 94% in 2022 to 95% in 2023 (with a variety of 24-99%), however protection with the second dose (MCV2) remained stagnant at 91%. Because of this 500 000 youngsters missed their first dose and 900 000 youngsters didn’t obtain their scheduled second and ultimate dose of measles-containing vaccine on time in 2023.
This annual hole in protection creates an ever-increasing pool of susceptible youngsters, which, regardless of efforts in lots of international locations to supply catch-up vaccinations, contributed to a complete of over 61 000 measles instances and 13 associated deaths within the Area in 2023. Solely 11 international locations have achieved the protection goal of ≥95% for each MCV1 and MCV2, which is required to attain measles elimination.
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
The HPV vaccine protects towards cervical and different types of most cancers and is a part of the routine vaccination schedule for ladies, and in some instances additionally boys, in 46 international locations within the Area as of this yr. At the very least two extra international locations plan to introduce the vaccine in 2025.
Progress in HPV vaccination uptake has been regular in most international locations which have launched the vaccine up to now. Over 1.9 million ladies turned totally vaccinated towards HPV in 2023, which is over 164 000 greater than within the earlier yr. Whereas 10 international locations noticed a lower in protection from 2022 to 2023, regional protection with the primary dose elevated amongst ladies to 39% and boys to 25%.
Poliomyelitis (polio)
Protection with the third dose of vaccination towards polio remained secure at 95%, which is the same as the 2019 pre-pandemic degree.
Thanks to an intensive outbreak response effort, together with catch-up vaccinations, an outbreak of vaccine-derived poliovirus in Ukraine was declared closed in 2024.
Regular will increase in protection for different vaccines
Uptake and/or introduction of a number of different vaccines in routine immunization schedules have elevated steadily regardless of the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Protection with the third and ultimate dose of pneumococcal (PCV) vaccine, for instance, elevated from 81% in 2019 to 86% in 2023.
Uptake of rotavirus vaccine, given to newborns in 26 international locations within the Area, elevated from 25% in 2019 to 41% in 2023 and uptake of vaccination towards Haemophilis influenzae sort B (Hib3) additionally elevated considerably from 81% in 2019 to 94% in 2023.
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