Context:
WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) 2023 released
Key findings:
- Childhood immunization coverage stalled in 2023, leaving 2.7 million children either unvaccinated or under-vaccinated.
- Over 50% of unvaccinated children live in the 31 conflict affected countries.
- India accounted for 2 million zero-dose children.
- Zero-dose children – Refers to children who failed to receive any routine vaccination.
- In India 1.6 million children missed crucial Diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (together called DPT) and measles vaccinations in 2013.
- India lacks human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in national programs
- Cervical cancer is the cause of 2nd highest cancer in women (18% of female cancers).
Important initiatives:
- New vaccines – Measles-Rubella, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) and Rotavirus Vaccine (RVV), have been introduced and expanded nationwide.
- Mission Indradhanush (MI) – Launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) in 2014 with the aim to vaccinate all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children under Universal Immunization Programme.
- Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) – Launched to bring down the number of zero-dose children.
- Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN)
Source: WHO
Previous Year Question
‘Mission Indradhanush’ launched by the Government of India pertains to:
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) Immunisation of children and pregnant women
(b) Construction of smart cities across the country
(c) India’s own search for the Earth-like planets in outer space
(d) New Educational Policy
Answer: (a)
