Highlights of 2024 WHO and UNICEF Immunization Estimates Highlights of 2024 WHO and UNICEF Immunization Estimates Content editor : Dr. Urmimala August 25, 2025 WHO News section Vaccination, Immunization, Inequities, WHO, UNICEF The 2024 estimates of global immunization coverage were released by UNICEF and WHO. The key highlights are: Worldwide , 89% of infants have received at least one dose of the DPT vaccine, and 85% have completed all three recommended doses. In 131 out of 195 countries, first-dose DPT vaccination coverage reaches 90% or higher. In 47 countries, progress is being held back. Moreover, 22 of these 47 countries had achieved 90% coverage of the first dose of DPT in 2019 but have seen a decline since then. Measles vaccination coverage for the first dose is 84%, and second dose coverage increased to 76% from 74%. The estimates emphasize the need to focus on addressing the issues leading to a decrease in vaccination coverage and sustaining the efforts in countries that have already achieved high coverage. For further reading, click here

ICMR calls for companies to develop typhoid and paratyphoid vaccines. ICMR calls for companies to develop typhoid and paratyphoid vaccines. Content Editor: Dr Manu March 7, 2025 Indian Council of Medical Research, Expression of Interest Vaccine Development, ICMR, Vaccine Trial, Typhoid Vaccine A study found a national incidence of around 360 typhoid cases per 100,000 people, translating to approximately 4.5 million cases annually. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) released an Expression of Interest (EoI) for companies to help validate and commercialise a new vaccine candidate developed by the National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (ICMR-NIRBI), Kolkata (erstwhile ICMR-NICED) that may help tackle enteric fever caused by both Salmonella typhi and S. paratyphi A . Key features of the technology include: Isolation and Characterization of OMVs: Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMVs) were isolated from Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi A. These OMVs were comprehensively characterized to identify associated antigens, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Vi-polysaccharide. Immunization and Immune Response: Adult mice were immunized orally with three doses of the bivalent OMV-based immunogen (25 μg/200 μl). The immunization induced robust humoral responses, including significant serum IgG levels against LPS and Vi-polysaccharide. It activated specific immune cell populations, such as CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells, in the spleen of immunized mice. The vaccine also stimulated Th1 and Th17 cell-mediated immune responses. Protective Efficacy: Immunization with the bivalent OMVs provided protection against systemic infection caused by lethal doses of heterologous Salmonella strains in adult mice models. The protective effect was found to be mediated by a combination of humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. Novel Mechanism of Protection: Anti-OMVs antibodies generated through immunization significantly inhibited bacterial motility and their ability to penetrate mucin layers. This new candidate vaccine is considered superior to the current typhoid conjugate and Vi-polysaccharide based vaccines, as the latter only protect against enteric fever caused by S. typhi strains. The EoI now calls for companies to partner with ICMR on validating these results through vaccine trials and help develop and commercialise vaccines for use. ICMR will provide funding and technical support through expert guidance for the same.

World TB Day coming up on 24th March Content Editor: Dr. Prachi Goswami March 9, 2024 at 2:30:00 PM Communicable diseases, Tuberculosis The theme for 2024 World TB Day is ‘Yes! We can end TB!’ which conveys the hope of getting stronger against the TB epidemic by turning commitments into actions. For this, WHO calls action on several fronts: Translating political declarations by high-level leadership into actions Sustainable investment for research and universal access to TB care Scaling the integration of TB screening with TB preventive treatment (TPT) Tackling underlying causes (like poverty, inequality, malnutrition, comorbidities, discrimination, and stigma - any two) by concerted action by all sectors, communities, and the civil society Tackling health inequities to ensure health for all There is also an advocacy and communications package developed by WHO which supports awareness building and drives action across all levels. Previous Next

A new addition to the list of NTDs A new addition to the list of NTDs Content Editor: Dr. Sakshi Aggarwal January 25, 2024 WHO News Section Neglected Tropical Diseases Based on the recommendations of the 17th meeting of the S trategic and T echnical A dvisory G roup for N eglected T ropical D iseases (STAG-NTD ), the World Health Organization announced the inclusion of Noma to its official list of NTDs. Noma, cancrum oris, or gangrenous stomatitis mostly affects malnourished children (2-6 years old) in areas of extreme poverty. It is most commonly seen in regions of sub-Saharan Africa and some parts of America and Asia. The treatment involves antibiotics, advice, and supportive practices to improve oral hygiene with disinfectant mouthwash and nutritional supplements. Therapy is most effective in the early stages of the disease when it causes swollen gums, known as acute necrotizing gingivitis . However, in extreme cases, surgery may also be required. The initial process for adding new conditions to the NTD list was established by the STAG-NTD in 2016. Since then, the following diseases have been added: Mycetoma (2016). Chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses (2017; added in a single group with Mycetoma). Scabies (2017). Snakebite envenoming (2017). Noma ( 2023). Currently, after the inclusion of Noma, WHO’s NTD list includes 21 diseases or groups of diseases. Click here to read more

Desertification And Drought Day Put Spotlight On Women Content Editor: Dr. Subhana Siyad June 30, 2023 at 6:21:01 PM International Day, Desertification, Drought, gender equality In 2021, World Meteorological Organisation reported that more than 2.3 billion people are under water stress due to a 29% increase in frequency and length of droughts since 2000. Moreover, women must overcome substantial obstacles and discriminatory laws and practices to inherit the land. Even though, half of the world's agricultural workforce is women, less than one in five landowners are female. In more than 100 countries, women are denied from inheriting their husband's land due to traditional, religious, or customary practices. Additionally, women spend 200 million hours daily gathering water, with certain countries requiring more than one hour per trip. Therefore, the theme for International Day Against Desertification and Drought 2023 , "Her land. Her rights, " underlines the importance of giving women equal access to land and resources t o secure both their futures and the future of humanity. Previous Next

Alarming surge in Measles cases: The need for proactive measures Alarming surge in Measles cases: The need for proactive measures Content Editor: Dr. Soundhar June 12, 2024 United Nations Children's Fund International health, Infectious disease, Disease outbreak Within the first three months of this year, 56,634 measles cases and four deaths were reported across 45 out of 53 countries in the WHO European Region. It will match or exceed this year when compared to last year's count of 300,000 cases. Half of the reported cases in 2023 were under five years old and missed routine vaccinations due to COVID-19. Viruses are imported between countries and continents, and there are regular outbreaks of the disease wherever the virus finds pockets of unvaccinated and under-vaccinated people. The WHO advises the following: Countries without an outbreak should be proactive in planning and preparing. Those countries currently experiencing an outbreak should intensify case finding and contract tracing. Sensitive people should be vaccinated to ensure that affected communities are protected. Click here to read more.

The need to develop policies driven by data: An opinion piece The need to develop policies driven by data: An opinion piece Content Editor: Dr. Urmimala July 15, 2024 National Council of Applied Economic Research Poverty, Social Policy, Public policy The India Human Development Survey (IHDS) researchers published their monthly updates related to socioeconomic development in June 2024. It covers more than 40,000 households on multiple topics related to socio-economic development in India. The fieldwork for IHDS-3 was conducted in 2022-2024, and the results have yet to be published. Reflecting on the findings, Sonalde Desai, one of the lead researchers at IHDS, wrote an opinion article about poverty in India. The Human Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) places India’s poverty at 5%, while the IHDS calculates it at 8.5%. The difference in the estimates of poverty is due to differences in the methodologies used. As the economy grows, more rural and urban people are finding work. Chronic poverty is decreasing, but transient poverty is increasing. As the number of gig workers rises, so does the risk of fatal accidents and, as a result, a lack of social security. Social policies need to be developed to cover risk insurance. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana (PMJAY) is limited only to hospital admissions but a large amount of health expenditure is also borne by those who visit OPDs or are not admitted. For immediate cash needs, access to registries can be ensured by linking current residential addresses to bank accounts. She emphasizes the need for a shift in our focus from poverty estimate numbers to using the data to develop social policies. Click here to read more.

Celebrating water: NITI Aayog's Jal Utsav inspires action across India Content Editor: Dr. Dheenadhayalan V November 26, 2024 at 3:31:58 PM Environment, Water Conservation NITI Aayog’s Jal Utsav 2024, organized from November 6 to 20 in partnership with the Ministry of Jal Shakti, concluded successfully across 20 aspirational districts in 20 states to promote water conservation and awareness . The event included a variety of activities involving thousands of participants from diverse groups, including communities, schools, and self-help groups (SHGs). Key highlights of the Jal Utsav include: Community Engagement : Sacred water asset ceremonies (Jal Bandhan ), cleaning and inventorying local water resources, and tree planting under the Ek Ped Maa Ka Naam initiative. School Activities : Essay writing, slogan competitions, and water quality testing demonstrations for students and teachers using field kits. Awareness Drives : Campaigns on the link between water and health, addressing leakages, and promoting water conservation practices. Student Exposure : Visits to local water supply assets to enhance understanding of resource management. States such as Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh witnessed remarkable participation. The Utsav emphasized water's importance as a shared community responsibility . Click here to read more Previous Next

Strategies to enhance COVID-19 vaccine uptake among prioritized groups: Recommendation for future pandemics. Content Editor: Dr. Soundhar July 17, 2024 at 2:30:00 PM COVID-19, International Health, Vaccination, Research findings It has been demonstrated that stakeholder involvement is significant in planning and targeting vaccination efforts for COVID-19. Community-based stakeholders play a significant role in fostering vaccine-related interpersonal mobilization. It demonstrated that influencers' engagement in developing and implementing vaccination strategies helped reduce misunderstandings and mistrust regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. Vaccination models developed through stakeholder engagement increased COVID-19 vaccine uptake among prioritized groups in supported regions of Uganda. Using the existing public health platforms and community social structures in emergency response efforts can reinforce health systems’ resilience to future pandemics. Click here to read more. Previous Next

E-cigarettes: not a smoking cessation strategy! E-cigarettes: not a smoking cessation strategy! Content Editor: Dr. Prachi Goswami January 8, 2024 WHO News Section Global Health, WHO E-cigarettes are allowed on the open market and aggressively marketed to young people. 88 countries have set no minimum age requirement to buy them and 74 have no regulations at all. E-cigarettes with nicotine are highly addictive and harmful to health. They target children through social media influencers, with more than 16,000 flavors, sleek designs, and popular cartoon characters. Children 13-15 years old are using them at rates higher than adults in all WHO regions . In the UK and Canada, the rates of use in young users are doubled in comparison to adult users. Even brief exposure to e-cigarette content increases interest in these products. E-cigarette users are 3 times more likely to use cigarettes later in life. They are not recommended as a cessation strategy based on the best available evidence of efficacy, even under a controlled environment. WHO recommends strengthening the implementation of bans and surveillance in the 34 countries where they are banned. WHO also recommends strong regulations to reduce their appeal by: Banning flavors Limiting nicotine concentration Taxing them in those countries where they are legal