Brazil leaves list of countries with most unvaccinated children, says Unicef

Brazil has left the list of the 20 countries with the most unvaccinated children in the world. This is what a study by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), released this Sunday (14), shows.

According to the report, the number of Brazilian children who did not receive the 1st dose of DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough) fell from 687 thousand in 2021 to 103 thousand in 2023.

Those who were not vaccinated with the 3rd dose of DTP fell from 846 thousand in 2021 to 257 thousand in 2023.

In 2021, Brazil was in 7th place in the ranking of 20 countries, but left the list last year.

The head of Health at UNICEF in Brazil, Luciana Phebo, defended the need to continue advancing with rapid immunization of children, especially the most vulnerable.

“These efforts must go beyond the walls of basic health units and reach other spaces where children and families, many in vulnerable situations, are – including schools, CRAS and other public spaces and facilities”, he states.

Overall results

The world was different from Brazil and the number of unvaccinated children increased last year. Compared to 2019 levels, global coverage resulted in 2.7 million more in 2023 with incomplete or no immunization.

The number of children who received three doses of DTP last year stagnated at 84%, representing 108 million people.

However, the number of people who did not receive a single dose of the vaccine increased by 600,000, reaching 14.5 million in 2023.

More than half of unvaccinated children live in 31 countries in fragile, conflict-affected and vulnerable settings, where children are especially vulnerable to diseases due to lack of access to safety, nutrition and health services.

The survey used data from 185 countries on immunization trends against 14 diseases administered in clinics, community centers, outreach services or visits by health workers.