No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsHealthChildhood Immunization Crisis in Latin America: UNICEF Warns of Alarming Decline

Childhood Immunization Crisis in Latin America: UNICEF Warns of Alarming Decline

Childhood immunization rates in Latin America and the Caribbean have fallen dramatically to levels seen 30 years ago, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and now 25% of children lack “critical” immunizations, according to UNICEF’s warning on Wednesday.

“This is one of the most serious child immunization crises the region has seen in nearly 30 years,” said UNICEF’s director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Garry Conille.

Latin America once had one of the highest child vaccination rates globally, but it now has one of the lowest rates, Conille added in a statement.

The UNICEF report, entitled “The State of the World’s Children 2023: For Every Child, Immunization,” highlights the situation in Latin America. The UN agency notes that the coverage of the third dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine among children under one fell by 18 percentage points, from 93% in 2012 to 75% in 2021.

This is the lowest routine immunization rate in the region in almost 30 years, placing Latin America and the Caribbean below the global average (81 percent) and just ahead of Eastern and Southern Africa (74 percent), UNICEF said.

Failure to prioritize vaccination

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, in Latin America, 2.4 million children under one year of age (one in four) are unprotected against preventable diseases due to a lack of full vaccination. Additionally, 1.7 million children have never been vaccinated. Venezuela (27%), Brazil (26%), Haiti (25%), and Bolivia (25%) have the highest percentages of children under one year of age without any vaccination, while Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Chile, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines have only 1% without immunization.

Haiti (24%), Panama (19%), and Venezuela (17%) have the highest percentage of children under 12 months with incomplete vaccination, while Belize, Cuba, and Costa Rica have no such cases.

“We are talking about almost all the vaccines in the immunization program; however, we are most concerned about diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis,” said Ralph Midy, UNICEF’s Immunization advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean.

“Both governments and international organizations have stopped prioritizing the issue of immunization in the region,” he added.

Pandemic triggered deficiencies

The situation has caused diseases such as diphtheria, measles, and polio, which were thought to have been eradicated in many countries, to reappear.

One of the primary causes of the decline in immunization levels in Latin America and the Caribbean is the COVID-19 pandemic, according to UNICEF. However, the decline was already occurring due to structural problems, lack of investment in primary care, shortage of qualified professionals, vaccines, and resources.

“Prolonged political and social instability has worsened over the past 10 years, creating difficulties in different countries,” Midy said.

“The pandemic exacerbated the challenges the region was already facing, disrupting childhood vaccination due to intense demands on health systems and containment measures,” he added.

Additionally, anti-vaccine movements “have undoubtedly generated an impact, although it is difficult to measure precisely,” Midy concluded.

Trending Now

Panama’s Colonial Trade Route Named UNESCO World Heritage Site

The colonial route of Panama, used for centuries to transport the riches of the Americas on mules and boats and considered a forerunner of...

Costa Rica Shines Once Again in This High-Quality Travel Video

A new 4K video now circulating online offers a fresh view of Costa Rica’s natural settings—one that captures our country's popular as well as...

Costa Rica’s Religious Culture Through the Eyes of a Non-Religious Expat

Costa Rica is the only country in the Americas that has an official religion—Catholicism—enshrined in its constitution. While the Constitution recognizes freedom of worship,...

Meet the Bats of Costa Rica from Tent Makers to Fish Hunters

Costa Rica is home to around 220 species of non-marine mammals. Roughly half of those species, 117 is the current number, are the type...

Flying Around Costa Rica is Easier Than Ever Thanks to Sansa Airlines

The airline recently added two new aircraft to its fleet, bringing their total to twelve. That increase allows SANSA to boost service to smaller...

Short Term Rental Income in Costa Rica to Face New Tax Rules

Property owners in Costa Rica who rent accommodations through popular platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com will soon face a new tax obligation. The General...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica