Confidence in childhood vaccines dropped around the world during pandemic: UNICEF

UNICEF reports that confidence in childhood vaccines has declined internationally during the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping as much as 44% in some countries.

of report“State of the world’s children 2023: Immunization equal or improved for all children. Confidence has fallen by more than a third since the start of the pandemic in South Korea, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Ghana and Senegal.” Did.

Researchers found that trust in early childhood vaccines remains strong overall, with more than 80% of those surveyed in nearly half of 55 countries saying vaccines are important for children .

However, they may be more hesitant about vaccines due to factors such as uncertainty about pandemic response, access to misleading information, declining trust in experts and political polarization. warned.

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said: release That data is a “worrying warning signal.” She said authorities must not allow vaccine confidence to become “another victim of the pandemic.” Otherwise, many children could die from preventable diseases such as measles and diphtheria.

“At the height of the pandemic, scientists rapidly developed vaccines that saved countless lives. It spread as widely as,” said Russell.

The release says the decline in confidence coincides with the pandemic-triggered continuing decline in childhood immunizations, the largest in 30 years. Almost every country has disrupted childhood immunization due to measures, labor shortages and immunization resources being diverted to developing a COVID-19 vaccine.

According to the report, 67 million children will not be vaccinated between 2019 and 2021, and children born just before or during the pandemic will be too old to be vaccinated against various diseases. I’m here.

Researchers also found that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities. The children most affected by the decline in childhood vaccines were those living in the poorest, most remote and most marginalized communities.

UNICEF has concluded that governments need to “double down” on increasing funding for immunization and free up available resources, including COVID-19 funding, to accelerate these efforts. .

The report urges governments around the world to identify and support all children who were not vaccinated during the pandemic, boost confidence in vaccines, and prioritize immunization and funding for primary health care. I am asking for It also said the government needs to invest in female health workers, “innovation” and local manufacturing to build a more resilient healthcare system.

“We are well aware that disease does not respect borders. Routine immunizations and a strong health system are the best ways to prevent future pandemics, unnecessary death and suffering,” he said. Russell said.