154 million lives worldwide saved by immunisation efforts over 50 years: Study

As per the latest UNICEF report in 2022, 93 per cent of surviving infants received the third dose of DTP vaccine and 90 per cent received the second dose of a measles vaccine in India.

“There is significant progress but also challenges. For instance, inequitable distribution of vaccines and the inability to reach the magic figure of 90 per cent coverage, gaps in available human resources, issues related to the financing of vaccination have to be tackled,” the IAP President said.

Meanwhile, a major study to be published by The Lancet reveals that global immunisation efforts have saved an estimated 154 million lives – or the equivalent of six lives every minute of every year – over the past 50 years. The vast majority of lives saved – 101 million – were those of infants.

At a virtual media conference earlier, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “Over the past 50 years, vaccination against 14 diseases (diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type B, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, measles, meningitis A, pertussis, invasive pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis, and yellow fever) has directly contributed to reducing infant deaths by 40 per cent globally, and by more than 50 per cent in the African region. Thanks to vaccines, smallpox has been eradicated, polio is on the brink, and with the more recent development of vaccines against diseases like malaria and cervical cancer, we are pushing back the frontiers of disease.”

As many as 33 million children missed a measles vaccine dose in 2022. A coverage of 95 per cent or greater, with two doses of measles vaccine is needed to protect communities from outbreaks.

Of vaccines included in the study, the measles vaccination had the most significant impact on reducing infant mortality, accounting for 60 per cent of the lives saved due to immunisation. This vaccine will likely remain the top contributor in preventing deaths. Nearly 94 million of the estimated 154 million lives saved since 1974 (when WHO’s Expanded Programme on Immunization was set up) were a result of protection by measles vaccines. Yet, 33 million children missed a measles vaccine dose in 2022—nearly 22 million missed their first dose and an additional 11 million missed their second dose.

Coverage of 95 per cent or greater with two doses of measles vaccine is needed to protect communities from outbreaks. Currently, the global coverage rate of the first dose of measles vaccine is 83 per cent and the second dose is 74 per cent, contributing to a very high number of outbreaks across the world.