The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) reported that an estimated 2.9 million children in the country are unvaccinated and thus vulnerable to potentially deadly infections like measles, rubella and polio. According to UNICEF, measles immunization coverage in the country has declined from 88 percent in 2013 to 73 percent in 2017. Last year, UNICEF said measles immunization coverage was recorded at less than 70 percent or way below the 95 percent required for population immunity. Two doses of the measles vaccine are essential to protect children and the WHO says 95 percent vaccine coverage is needed for “herd immunity” against measles. It was followed by India with 2.9 million, Pakistan and Indonesia with 1.2 million each and Ethiopia with 1.1 million.

Source: Philippine Star April 25, 2019 16:17 UTC