In News:

According to a recent Lancet study based on Global Burden of Disease data, India ranked second globally in terms of the number of unvaccinated or “zero-dose” children in 2023, trailing only Nigeria.

What Are Zero-Dose Children?

• The term “zero-dose children” refers to those who have not received even a single dose of any routine childhood vaccine.
• In 2023, 1.44 million children in India were identified as zero-dose, highlighting significant immunisation gaps.

Global and National Trends:

• Nigeria topped the list with approximately 2.5 million zero-dose children.
• Eight countries, including India and Nigeria, together accounted for over 50% of the global zero-dose burden.
• Globally, the number of zero-dose children dropped from 58.8 million in 1980 to 14.7 million in 2019, reflecting long-term progress.

Challenges in India:

• Despite the Universal ImmunisationProgramme (UIP) covering 12 vaccine-preventable diseases, several challenges persist:
  • COVID-19 pandemic led to significant disruptions in routine immunisation.
  • Vaccine hesitancy continues to undermine public health efforts.
  • Geographical and socio-economic inequalities limit access to health services in certain regions.
• Between 2010 and 2019, measles vaccine coverage declined in over 100 countries, including India, further exacerbating public health risks.