Three-quarters of more than 80 nations responding to UN survey said that the COVID pandemic had disrupted immunisation programmes. [AFP]The number of children worldwide getting life-saving vaccinations has declined this year largely because of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization and UNICEF warned on Wednesday. During the pandemic crisis at least 30 measles vaccination campaigns have been cancelled or are at risk, the two UN agencies said in a joint statement. Progress on immunisation coverage was already stalling before the new coronavirus hit, the UN agencies said. In Brazil, Bolivia, Haiti and Venezuela, immunisation coverage has dropped by at least 14 percent over the last decade.

Source: Standard Digital July 15, 2020 13:41 UTC