WHO Urges Swift Action to Protect South-East Asia's Children with Vaccines

The World Health Organisation has called on South-East Asian countries to accelerate protection of children and adolescent girls with life-saving vaccines. Efforts should focus on those missing doses and preventing diseases like measles, rubella, and cervical cancer. Stagnation in immunisation post-pandemic needs innovation and community engagement.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday urged South-East Asian nations to expedite actions to safeguard children with life-saving vaccines through the childhood immunisation programme, particularly focusing on those who missed doses, and to protect adolescent girls from cervical cancer.

In her address at the 15th meeting of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (SEAR-ITAG), Regional Director Saima Wazed emphasised the need to vaccinate all zero-dose and partially-vaccinated children and to restore immunisation momentum lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wazed highlighted the goal of eliminating measles and rubella from the region by 2026.

Wazed acknowledged experts, programme managers, champions, vaccinators, and community workers on the 50th anniversary of the expanded immunisation programme, citing its role in improving lives. Despite progress, she noted, the region missed its 2023 goal to eliminate measles and rubella. Recent data shows little change in immunisation coverage, necessitating innovative and locally impactful solutions.

(With inputs from agencies.)