A new study in The Lancet reveals that global childhood vaccination rates have stalled or fallen in recent years, a trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Canada also experiencing declines. The reasons vary from geopolitical instability and supply chain issues in low-income countries to vaccine misinformation and hesitancy in high-income countries, leading to concerns about outbreaks and worsening inequalities.
Vaccination rates are slipping around the world. Canada isn't immune, says new study
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A new study in The Lancet reveals that global childhood vaccination rates have stalled or fallen in recent years, a trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Canada also experiencing declines. The reasons vary from geopolitical instability and supply chain issues in low-income countries to vaccine misinformation and hesitancy in high-income countries, leading to concerns about outbreaks and worsening inequalities.
Trending- 1 1980-2023: Study analyzed vaccine coverage data.
- 2 2010-2019: Measles vaccine coverage declined in about half of countries in Americas and high-income countries.
- 3 2020-2023: COVID-19 pandemic caused more than 15 million children globally to miss routine shots.
- 4 2023: Measles vaccination rates in Canada (92% for one dose, 79% for two doses) below herd immunity threshold (95%).
- Reversal of decades of progress in reducing 'zero-dose children'
- worsening vaccine inequalities
- increased risk of outbreaks (e.g., measles)
- challenges for public health
What: Childhood vaccination rates are declining globally, including in Canada, after decades of progress. The decline is attributed to factors like geopolitical instability, supply chain issues, and vaccine misinformation/hesitancy.
When: Study analyzed data from 1980-2023. Progress stalled before COVID-19 (2010-2019). Pandemic impact from 2020-2023. Measles rates in 2023.
Where: Globally (204 countries and territories), specifically Americas, high-income countries, sub-Saharan Africa, Canada (Saskatoon, Calgary).
Why: Reasons for decline vary: geopolitical instability, supply chain issues (low-income countries), and vaccine misinformation/hesitancy (high-income countries like Canada). The pandemic reversed progress.
How: A new study published in The Lancet analyzed over 1,000 data sources to estimate vaccine coverage. Experts are calling for new strategies to combat hesitancy and support global vaccination campaigns.