According to UNICEF and the WHO, 229,000 Brazilian children did not receive the first dose of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in 2024
Brazil was again among the 20 countries with the largest number of children not vaccinated in the world, according to the data issued by United Nations Fund for childhood (UNICEF) and from World Health Organization (which).
The country now occupies the 17th position in the ranking, After leaving the list in 2024When the numbers of 2023 indicated an improvement in the coverage of children’s vaccination.
The indicator used is the application of the first dose of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus e pertussis (DTP1), considered one of the main access to routine immunization services.
In 2024, 229,000 Brazilian children did not receive the first dose of DTP1. In the previous year, this number had been 103,000, a significant reduction compared to the 418,000 recorded in 2022.
Despite the setback, about 2.3 million children received DTP1 last year. In Brazil, the immunner is applied through the pentavalent vaccine, which also protects from hepatitis B and infections caused by bacteria Haemophilus influenzae Type B (hib).
The coverage of the DTP1 vaccination was 91% in 2024, higher than 84% recorded in 2022, but still below the historical indexes. Between 2000 and 2012, the country reached almost 99% coverage. Autumn began since 2016 and worsened between 2019 and 2022.
The impact of low coverage can reflect on cases. Last year, Brazil totaled 7,438 Cagliata record, over 764 cases represented in 2000.
Global situation
On world scale, 14.3 million children have not received any dose of vaccine by 2024, 4 million above the expected to maintain the rhythm of immunization and achieve the objectives of the agenda of the immunization of 2030.
Another 20 million children started, but they did not complete the basic vaccination scheme last year.
In addition, in the Americas, seven of the 42 countries reported a coverage of less than 80% with the first dose of the triple viral vaccine, which protects from measlesparoti and rosolia.
Challenges
Since 2019, 131 countries evaluated by WHO and UNICEF have been able to vaccinate at least 90% of children with the first dose of DTP, but there have been no significant progress in the expansion of the number of territories with this brand.
According to UNICEF, the main factors that explain the low vaccination rates are the conflict, the under -social of national immunization programs, vaccinated scarcity and outbreaks.
Furthermore, according to the extent, about 10.2 million not vaccinated or under children watches (about 51%) live in countries affected by institutional, social or armed conflicts.
Data analysis requires care
To Renato Kfouri, vice president of the Brazilian company of Immunizations (SBIM), the reasons for the fall of the vaccination coverage in the last ten years are multifaceted, but are related to the success of the vaccines themselves.
Since immunizers control the incidence of the disease, the perception of risk falls and people stop looking for immunization, he explains. In addition, the difficulties of disinformation and access also contribute to the fall of the commissions, says the doctor.
However, Kfouri recalls that the WHO and UNICEF list considers only absolute numbers. This means that it does not show how many children are without zero dose proportionally to the population of the child of each country. That is, it is not a percentage calculation, but gross numbers. Since Brazil has a very large population, it ends up appearing in higher positions.
The expert also underlines that although it is an important indicator, there are restrictions on the accuracy of the data, which are retroactive and destroy Ministry of Healthwhich indicate an increase in vaccination coverage. “I am not in tune with our data, which show that we have multiple children vaccinated compared to 2022, 2023 and 2024.”
The doctor underlines, however, that this does not exclude the possibility of children on the sidelines, not included in the health system, without receiving the doses of the vaccine.
“The worrying fact is the number of children, whatever it is, on the sidelines of the system. The list is symbolic, but this is the great effort in a unfortunate country like ours: to make us access to everyone, that nobody is left behind.”
DTP vaccine in Brazil
The National Immunizations Program (PNI) provides for the offer of DTP in the routine of the national vaccination calendar that continues the primary regime made with the pentavalent vaccine (both, four and six months of the child’s life).
According to the ministry, the DTP is recommended for children from 1 year to less than seven years and is indicated in a scheme of two doses of reinforcement: the first should be administered at 15 months of age and the second, at the age of four.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
