Brazil no longer among 20 nations that vaccinate fewest kids

The year of 2023 marked a breakthrough for Brazil in child immunization, as it saw the country leave the ranking of the 20 nations with the most unvaccinated children, as per a global study released Monday (Jul. 15) by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The survey reveals that the number of kids who have not received any doses of DTP1 in Brazil fell from 710 thousand in 2021 to 103 thousand in 2023. As for DTP3, the drop between the same years was from 846 thousand to 257 thousand. DTP is the vaccine that protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.

In 2021, Brazil ranked seventh in the group of countries with the most unimmunized children. With the reduction in the number of unvaccinated kids, the country left the list, and showed steady progress in 14 of the 16 immunizations surveyed.

UNICEF’s head of health in Brazil, Luciana Phebo, pointed out that the country’s child immunization performance is a recovery after years of coverage on the wane. She emphasized the importance of taking action, which includes offering vaccination also outside of health care facilities.

“It is essential to continue moving even faster to find and immunize every girl and boy who has not yet received the vaccines. Efforts must go beyond the walls of basic health units, and reach other spaces where children and families are, including schools, assistance centers, and other public spaces and facilities,” she declared.

Worldwide

Brazil’s progress shows a stark contrast with the global scenario, in which a surge has been reported in the number of children who have not received any doses of DTP1—from 13.9 million in 2022 to 14.5 million in 2023. The number of kids receiving three shots of DTP in 2023 stagnated at 84 percent (108 million).

DTP is considered a key indicator for global immunization coverage. Altogether, the survey provides data from 185 countries.