Zero Dose Children’s: There was a stir in the health department when an international report by UNICEF claimed that the number of zero dose children in India is increasing rapidly. However, the Indian Union Health Ministry has rejected these vaccination figures of the country and has said that since 2014, 5.46 crore children and 1.32 crore pregnant women have been vaccinated. Regarding the UNICEF report, the Health Ministry said that these figures show an incomplete picture, whereas the situation in India is not like this.
Who are Zero Dose Children?
What are zero dose children? If you are also having questions about this, then let us tell you that zero dose children means children with zero dose. This is the name given to those children who have not yet received vaccination services or who have not taken any vaccination in their life till date.
It includes several vaccinations ranging from the first dose of DTP to hepatitis B, tetanus. These vaccinations are given immediately after the birth of the child and some vaccinations are also given to pregnant women. UNICEF’s report claimed that the number of zero dose children is high in India.
What does the UNICEF report say?
According to the UNICEF report, the number of zero dose children is higher now than before the COVID-19 pandemic. The report states that this number has increased from 1.39 crores to 1.45 crores and is 17 lakhs more than in 2019. Not only this, the number of unvaccinated and under-vaccinated children in 2023 is also 2.1 crores, which is 27 lakhs more than the baseline value. The UNICEF report states that India is one of the 10 countries where 69 percent of the world’s zero dose children are.
Why is vaccination necessary?
Vaccination gives immunity to the body of children, which can protect newborns from life-threatening diseases. This includes vaccinations like measles, polio, whooping cough, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, which give the immune system the power to produce antibodies. When a child is born, these injections are definitely given to them.
Disclaimer: Some of the information given in the news is based on media reports. Before implementing any suggestion, please consult the concerned expert.
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